Olympic football: Nigeria beat Denmark, to face Germany in semis

Salvador (Brazil), Aug 14 (IANS) John Obi Mikel and Aminu Umar sent Denmark packing while getting Nigeria into the semi-finals of the Olympic men's football tourney with a solid 2-0 victory that puts them on the road to a collision with Germany.

Chelsea midfielder Obi Mikel grabbed the lead for Nigeria 16 minutes into the match at Fonte Nova Stadium here on Saturday, and Umar, a striker for the Turkish club Osmanlispor, added the finishing touch, reports Efe.

With little to stop Samson Siasia's squad or any soccer strategems that might level the playing field for Niels Frederiksen's team, the game took on a bureaucratic rhythm until the final whistle by Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci.

Hours before at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia, the German team smashed Portugal 4-0 with goals by Serge Gnabry, Matthias Ginter, Davie Selke and Philipp Max.