By Gbenga Jolaosho,
Abuja
Nigeria Dream Team forward Oghenekaro Etebo has said he was lucky to score four goals and equal a record first set by West Germany’s Bernd Nickel 44 years ago while reiterating his target for gold at the ongoing Rio Games in Brazil.
Nickel scored his double brace in a 7-0 spanking of USA in front of 65,000 fans in Munich.
Portugal-based Etebo, who said he is inspired by Manchester United star Wayne Rooney, scored his four goals against Japan in the Nigeria Group B first match which ended 5-4 on Friday.
He told FIFA.com: “When I scored those goals, I didn’t think about anything. It’s a game of football! Luck was on my side,”
“I’m not that perfect but I believe, like my coach says, once you get a chance, it’s better you convert it because you don’t know when you’re going to get another one.
“I’m not a kind of special striker or fantastic goal scorer, but it’s better to be at the right place at the right time to score good goals.”
Etebo, who was emerged highest goal scorer when Nigeria won the U-23 AFCON in Senegal in December, insists that helping the country to win gold remained his upper most ambition at the Rio Games.
“Scoring all the goals in this competition and not winning the gold medal would have amounted to a waste of effort and that’s not my target. Yes, it would be great to see my efforts contributing to the success of the team, but if it will not lead us to the gold, then I don’t want it,” he said.
The Dream Team will meet Columbia in their Group B last match.
