Nigeria soccer team shrug off flight drama

The Nigerian men's soccer team didn't show any fatigue after a last-minute trip that brought the players to Brazil just hours before their Rio Olympics opener, beating Japan 5-4.

A mix-up at the airport forced Nigeria to make a late flight from Atlanta in the US to Brazil.

The team arrived in the jungle city of Manaus about six hours before overcoming jet lag and the heat and humidity in the Amazon city to win a thrilling game on Thursday night.

The team faced the uncomfortable situation of spending the day of its debut at the Olympics aboard an aeroplane on a more than six-hour flight and facing a Japan team that was in Brazil for several days preparing for the contest.

The team failed to make their flight last Friday due to a mix-up at the airport.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines stepped in to help after learning of the flight issue, offering the team a chartered jet free of charge.