WATCH Sports Minister Dalung Apologise to Dream Team for Pre-Olympics Drama – “it’s when a man faces challenges that his true ability is tested”

Solomon Dalung, the Minister Youth and Sports, on Monday apologized to players and officials of Nigeria’s Olympic football team, Dream Team VI, for the circumstances that led to their late arrival in Brazil.

Dalung tendered the apology in the dressing room after Nigeria’s 1-0 victory against Sweden in their second group B match.

With the victory the Dream Team VI had reached the last eight of the Men’s Olympic Football event at the ongoing Games in Brazil.

Dalung said:

“I want to apologise for all the circumstances that led to your late arrival here. I apologise because I am the head and as such I must take responsibility for anything that happens under my watch.

I want to assure you that we appreciate your efforts, and I want to say that it’s when a man faces challenges that his true ability is tested. I am sure we all have learnt our lessons and will take the lessons to heart going forward”.

He added that Dream Team faced similar challenges on their way to winning the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Senegal last year, which qualified Nigeria for the Olympics.

Watch the video here:

Sports minister Dalung video in the Dream Team dressing room 2/3 pic.twitter.com/G7i5Bruh1s

— Timi Ebikagboro (@ebikagboro) August 8, 2016

Dalung assured the players and officials that all bonuses and allowances due to them will be paid.

Responding, team captain Mikel Obi assured the Minister that the team will not lose focus as their target is to win the gold medal for Nigeria.

Nigeria will play Colombia on Wednesday at the Arena dos Corinthians in Sao Paulo in their final group match.

Nigeria is drawn in group B with Japan, Sweden and Columbia.

The 2016 Summer Olympics games which started on August 5 will end on August 21.

Photo Credit: Twitter – @pachonj