JAPANESE FOREIGNER DONATES TO NIGERIA DREAM TEAM

A Japanese fan has arrived Rio to hand $200,000 (£153,500) to the Nigerian Olympic team, in addition to his promise to pay a $30,000 (£23,000) bonus to each player if they win gold.

Japanese plastic surgeon Katsuya Takasu wants to reward the team after hearing about their financial difficulties.
He will pay them $20,000 (£15,350) for silver and $10,000 (£7,680) for bronze.
Takasu told BBC Sport the $200,000 "is a special donation" and "it is better to deliver it to the team personally".

He added: I've made previous donations to a Japanese hockey team and other notable causes in the past but this right now with Nigeria is incredibly passionate for me.
"I am deeply determined to motivate this indomitable and strong Nigerian team. I don't want to distract them but to push them further to their target - the gold in Brazil.

"I hope to see them win gold. They've sacrificed a lot to get to Brazil and reach the semi-finals. Humans with such a strong spirit should be encouraged to perform beyond their own imagination."
         

The Samson Siasia-led Nigeria team will face Germany in the semi-final on Wednesday and they will be without their top scorer with four goals - Ogenekaro Etebo - because of injury.
Nigeria had a troubled build-up to their 2-0 quarter-final victory against Denmark in Salvador last weekend - the players boycotted a training session in a dispute over pay.
"I read about the financial problems affecting the team and I felt the need to make a big contribution,"