Nigerians' joy at Olympic success

By Andrew Walker
BBC News, Abuja

People gathered around every available television set to watch

There have been scenes of joy in Nigeria after their Olympic football team reached the finals in China.

The footballers beat Belgium 4-1 and will face Argentina on Saturday.

When Nigeria scored the fourth goal, policemen in the capital's police headquarters celebrated so loudly the building shook.

In recent years the national team has not matched the success of its junior sides whose wins include 1996 Olympic gold and the 2007 Under-17 World Cup.

In many Nigerians' eyes the Super Eagles have underperformed despite the fact that many of the country's footballers now play in the top leagues of European football.

Roar

People gathered around every available television set to watch the so-called "Dream Team" play, mainly made up of under-23 players.

I know we can go ahead and beat Argentina Football fan Martins Stephens

The roar when each goal was scored could be heard out in the streets of the capital, Abuja.

Petty trader Idriss, known to his customers as "Old Man", watched the game through the window of the restaurant next door to his street side stall in the Capital's Wuse 2 area.

"When I can't see, other people tell me what's happening," he said.

Some of the other spectators by the window hid their faces and refused to speak for fear of being caught out of work.

Football fan Martins Stephens said the win had restored his faith in Nigerian football.

"I know we can go ahead and beat Argentina," he told the BBC.