Rio Olympics: Mikel shines as Nigeria spank Denmark

- The Dream Team are through to the semi-final of the men's football competition at the Olympics

- John Mikel Obi and Aminu Umar scored as Nigeria eased past Denmark 2-0

- The Samson Siasia tutored side will play tournament favorites Germany in the semi-finals

John Mikel Obi and Aminu Umar scored as Nigeria defeated Denmark 2-0 in the quarter-finals of the men's football competition at the Rio Olympics.

Nigeria started the game strongly with Imoh Ezekiel showing exceptional skills down the right wing.

The first goal came when Aminu Umar beat a defender for pace on the left and sent a low cross into the box which John Mikel Obi slotted home in a spectacular fashion.

Denmark almost restored parity through Nielsen who controlled a long pass on the left and volleyed at goal, but his shot hit crashed unto the crossbar early in the game

Meanwhile, Nigeria's Emmanuel Daniel made two world class saves to deny Gomes and Nielsen in the first half.

The Dream Team returned from the tunnel strongly and their persistence eventually paid off; First Stanley Amuzie tried a shot, but the goalkeeper pulled a brilliant save for a corner kick to Nigeria.

Mikel Obi delivered a 'delicious' ball in and Aminu Umar rose highest to head past the Danish goalkeeper.

Nigeria should have added a third late in the game as Usman Muhammed laid a pass through to substitute Junior Ajayi who saw his attempt go over.

Below is the LIVE update of the Rio Olympics men's quarter-final soccer match between Nigeria's U-23 Dream Team and Denmark...

90' Three minutes of added time given...Gomes does well to clear a long pass from Mikel Obi to Amuzie

88' SHOT!! Junior Ajayi cannot connect well with a cross from Mohammed... the striker's attempt is just over

86' Denmark attacking in numbers now...a cross from the right is just pushed from the feet of a Denmark attacker

82' The Nigerian defense is looking tired now, Umar and Sadiq start an attack and feed Usman Mohammed who tries a left-footed shot which is just deflected wide...the resulting corner was eventually wasted

79' Yellow card for Azubuike and he will now miss the semi-final (he is the vice-captain of the team)

78' The defender injured in the last attack is taken off the pitch for treatment

76' SHOT!!! Mikel plays a long ball over the top to Sadiq Umar, but the lanky man could not manage to reach the ball

74' At the other end, Larson does well to beat Amuzie for speed but his cross is stopped by Sincere

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72' ALMOST!!! Sadiq Umar tries to pounce on a bouncing ball but he slips and Denmark are able to gather and attack....

66' Denmark being patient and trying to work the ball forward, but it just would not happen for the Danish side

64' In quick successions Denmark have chances to score but Nigeria's defense stands firm to block a shot while another is well wide off the mark

62' ALMOST THREE!!! Mikel Obi's corner kick is just headed wide, it looked like a sure goal from here!!!

59' GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Aminu Umar scores from the resulting corner with a thumping header

55' Another save from Emmanuel Daniel who does well to thwart a threatening freekick from the left

53' Nigeria controlling the game in style, Azubuike and Usman Mohammed have been impressive in the middle of the pack for Nigeria

50' Ekong does well to shield Nielsen who was already through on goal, Emmanuel Daniel saves easily

47' Like the first half, Nigeria have started well almost getting a goal, but a defender stops an attack

Mikel Obi's strike is the difference as Nigeria's Emmanuel Daniel makes three wonderful saves in the first half

45' SAVE!!! Daniel saves acrobatically from throw-in with three Danish players around him

45' WHAT A SAVE!!! Emmanuel Daniel does well to athletically save a header from a corner kick... one minute of added time given

37' ALMOST A GOAL!!! Amuzie's cross from the left is deflected but the ball just wouldn't go in with the goalkeeper wrong footed

35' Denmark attack from the right as Amuzie is found wanting but Ekong does well to stop the attack

33' Nigeria have won all of the 6 Olympics men football matches they scored the opener, also Nigeria are unbeaten in their last 5 Olympics matches against European teams

32' Denmark looking confident and more dangerous on the ball now...the Dream team have to get the ball forward and far away from goal as the opposition continues to attack from all angles

27' ANOTHER SMART SAVE!!! Daniel saves from point blank range after a throw-in finds an attacker free on the left...Nigeria survive again

25' WHAT A SAVE!!! A high ball over the Nigeria defense wall finds a striker, but his header is saved in stunning fashion

23' Nigeria still ahead in this game and the Dream Team doing all the right things as Denmark find it hard to leave their box...Imoh Ezekiel and Mikel Obi have been impressive so far

20' WHAT A MISS!!! Imoh Ezekiel beats a defender on the left and finds himself one-on-one with the goalie, he tries to curl one into the top corner but it goes over, the attacker should have passed

17' Aminu did well to beat a defender for pace from the right and cross and Mikel Obi was on hand to convert

14' CLEARED!!! Mikel tries a one time cross from the right and as it looked like Sadiq Umar would score, it is cleared

12' BAR!!! Casper Nilsen is fed on the left, he chests the ball and volleys at goal that hits the bar... Nigeria survive

10' Oghenekaro Etebo misses this game as he is injured...Aminu Umar is his replacement

8' Denmark have been aggressive in this game and the referee is forced to call the captain and a player to warn his team to keep level heads

6' ALMOST...Mikel Obi does well to keep control of the ball and pass to Sadiq Umar but his pass is just overhit

5' SHOT!!! Stanley Amuzie , the left back tries his luck from almost 35 yards out but its straight to the goalie

3' Nigeria are pressing well and doing all they can to disrupt the Danes passing lanes

1' SHOT!!! Nigeria's Mohammed takes a shot from outside the box after an ball is cleared to his feet but the goalie does well to hold upto the ball

Denmark defeated Nigeria 6 - 2 in a friendly match before the start of the Olympics

1' Quickly Shehu Abdullahi concedes a throw in...but Nigeria recover quickly and Imoh Ezekiel is released on the right but his cross is cleared

Nigeria XI vs Denmark: Daniel, Abdullahi, Troost-Ekong, Seth, Amuzie, Okechukwu, Mohammed, Obi (C), A. Umar, S. Umar, Ezekiel

Below is the preview of the Rio Olympics men's quarter-final soccer match between Nigeria's U-23 Dream Team and Denmark

Nigeria will face Denmark in the quarter final of the Rio Olympics men’s football event in Salvador today, August 13, but they may be without their star player Oghenekaro Etebo.

This follows report that the attacking midfielder may not be in action against the Scandinavians due to a hamstring injury he sustained against Colombia in the team’s last outing.

A scan on Thursday, August 11, confirmed that Etebo has torn a muscle and may miss today's game and the rest of the tournament should Nigeria make it into the next round.

Many had questioned Siasia’s decision to play the CD Feirense player in the match versus Colombia as the team’s had secured top spot in Group B, but the 42-year-old will be looking to put smiles back on the faces of Nigerians when his team come up against Denmark tonight.

The match at Fonte Nova Arena is the second meeting between the teams in the space of two months. Emil Larsen netted three times to ensure Denmark thumped Nigeria 6-2 in the Suwon tournament in South Korea in June.

However, Samson Siasia will hope that John Mikel Obi’s leadership will guide the team to victory against Denmark despite not having any advantage over the Danes.

Legit.ng will bring you live coverage of this game. Kick-off time is 8pm (Nigerian Time)