TheCable

Dream Team VI, the Nigerian Under-23 football team, is currently stranded in Atlanta, United States — less than 14 hours before its opening Rio 2016 Olympics encounter against Japan.

This has sparked renewed conversations about the ineptitude of the Nigeria Football federation (NFF) and the entire sports ministry, especially coming two weeks after the botched attempt to employ Paul Le Guen as coach of the Super Eagles.

That the Dream Team is now scheduled to arrive Manaus, Brazil, seven hours before the game, has left Nigerians wondering if it stands any chance against the Japanese, as the players will now surely be jet-lagged by kickoff.

But football is no mathematics.

Atlanta Airport, where the stranded players are currently boarding their flight, has reminded the world about how the first Dream Team arrived Atlanta behind schedule for the 1996 Olympics games after a travel mix up, but went ahead to win the football tournament.

“20 years ago, the Nigerian #Olympic soccer team arrived late in #ATL after a travel mixup. They won gold,” it tweeted. “This year, another mixup. @Delta stepped up, offered charter, and the Eagles are going to #Brazil. Another gold?”

20 years ago, the Nigerian #Olympic soccer team arrived late in #ATL after a travel mixup. They won gold. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/tDGd7HQxJs

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— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) August 4, 2016

This year, another mixup. @Delta stepped up, offered charter, and the Eagles are going to #Brazil. Another gold? 2/2 pic.twitter.com/cWeP0LH3Re

— Atlanta Airport (@ATLairport) August 4, 2016

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Is this an omen that Nigeria is about to win again, or is the airport simply mocking Nigeria for never learning from its past foibles?

We will all find out in three weeks.