BELO HORIZONTE: Nigeria withstood a late fightback from Honduras to claim the bronze medal in the Olympic Games men’s football tournament with a 3-2 win in the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte.

Coach Samson Siasia’s side enjoyed a three-goal advantage shortly before the hour thanks to a double from Sadiq Umar and Aminu Umar’s 49th-minute strike but Honduras hit back late with goals from Antony Lozano and Marcelo Pereira.

Nigeria started brightly and came close to taking the lead on seven minutes when Mikel John Obi set up Aminu Umar whose effort struck both posts. Umar had another good opportunity minutes later but was denied by goalkeeper Luis Lopez.

Honduras manufactured their own openings. Nigeria goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel was called into action to deny Alberth Elis on 11 minutes. The forward then had a golden opportunity on 33 minutes when he accelerated through the Nigeria defence but was foiled by Daniel.

Honduras were made to rue that missed opportunity whe n Nigeria took the lead just a minute later. Mikel demonstrated his splendid technique by dribbling into the box and finding Sadiq Umar, who fired the Africans into the lead.

Aminu Umar doubled Nigeria’s advantage four minutes after the break, while Sadiq Umar’s second of the game left Siasia’s side cruising on 56 minutes.

Honduras, with nothing to lose, sparked back into attacking life. Lozano pulled one back for Jorge Luis Pinto’s side on 71 minutes before Pereira headed home an Oscar Salas free-kick.

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