BEIJING -- When Nigeria became the first African team to capture an Olympic soccer gold medal in 1996, 8-year-old Emmanuel Ekpo was one ecstatic young boy in his home country.
"It was pride for me being a Nigerian," Ekpo said. "It was pride to Africa. Nigeria was the first African nation to win the Olympic gold medal. It was a surprise to me.
"I would say we have the same chance to do the same thing. We need to win three more times."
Today, the lone MLS player still standing in the Olympic soccer tournament -- Ekpo plays midfield for the Columbus Crew -- has his sights set on making some more history for Nigeria by winning its second gold medal.
Before the Nigerians can even think about a final victory lap around Olympic Stadium and listening to their national anthem, they must overcome Ivory Coast in Saturday's quarterfinals in Beijing. The winner will advance to the semifinals and medal round of the tournament and will ensure an African team advancing that far for the third time in four Olympics. Cameroon, which takes on Brazil in another quarterfinal Saturday, did in 2000, en route to its gold medal.
"I would say we can meet the challenge," Ekpo said after Nigeria eliminated the U.S. with a 2-1 victory in Wednesday. "We have a good team. The guys from the bench were all good.
"I wouldn't say we are scared of any team. We are not scared of any team. We take our chances when it comes."
He hasn't figured in any goals, at least not yet, coming off the bench in the Africans' first three games. The 6-2, 165-lb. Ekpo got his feet wet in the Group B scoreless draw with a two-minute cup of coffee vs. the Netherlands Aug. 7, played the final 13 minutes in the 2-1 win against Japan Aug. 10 and came on in the 85th minute as the Africans held off the USA Aug. 13 for a 2-1 victory.
Ekpo admitted he had some mixed emotions about beating the U.S., considering he had a Crew teammate on the American side -- midfielder Robbie Rogers. Both players talked earlier in the tournament when both teams were based in Tianjin.
"It was quite unfortunate that the U.S. side did not qualify," Ekpo said. "I feel for him. The game of football is tough."
Nigeria used Ekpo's knowledge of Rogers and of the 10 MLS players on the U.S. team to get a better feeling for the Americans.
"Actually, my team, they asked me a lot about the U.S. side," he said. "This is my country. Football is not something you just say but actually what happens on the pitch of play. I told them about what I know about the U.S. side, what to expect and about my teammate, Robbie."
Despite playing a man down for virtually the entire match, the U.S. made a game of it, especially in the final six minutes as the Americans tried to overcome a two-goal deficit.
"Actually, it was amazing," he said. "The U.S. side, I would say the last five six minutes they were at the top of the game. They were one goal down and they played us to the fullest. They are actually a very good side."
In 1996, Nigeria staged a pair of memorable comebacks in the medal round, upending favored Brazil and Argentina. The Africans rallied from a 3-1 deficit to stage a remarkable 4-3 extra-time triumph against the Brazilians in the semifinals and overcame a 2-1 disadvantage and connecting for the game-winner with a minute remaining in regulation for a 3-2 victory over Argentina in the gold-medal match.
"Everybody was happy," Ekpo said of the celebrations back home. "After the match everyone was [celebrating]."
And if Nigeria wins this time around?
"They will be more fun and happy this time around because football is getting higher and higher in Africa as the boys keep on growing [as players]," he said.
Of course, if Nigeria does go all the way and wins it, Ekpo probably won't be able to partake in any of the celebrations in Africa. He will have to return to the United States to play for the Crew and meet up with Rogers as an ally and not a foe.
That's one problem Ekpo would love to have.
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