Title favorite Nigeria will face Japan in a Group B match at the Olympic men's soccer tournament here on Sunday.

"In the next games we can focus on getting a little bit more going in attack and scoring a few goals," Nigeria coach Samson Siasia, whose team held 0-0 with the European Under-23 champion Netherlands in the opener.

"We came into the game with the hopes of winning," said the Italy club Chievo Verona's striker Obinna Nsofor, who missed several scoring opportunities in the opener.

"We will take heart in what we did right and try to use it to produce goals in our next game," he said.

Forward Osaze Odemwingie, who plays for Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow, had excellent display in the opening match. He is the only over-aged player in the Nigerian squad as the other two over-aged players - Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and forward Ike Uche were not released by their European clubs.

The young talent Taye Taiwo, having helped his country advancing to the final of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2005, also missed the tournament as French club Olympique Marseille refused to release him.

However, Siasia was still confident on the team's prospect at the Olympics. "I think we have a squad capable of showing the world they are good enough for the gold medal. The entire nation is banking on this set of players," he said.

On the Japan side, they are facing a do-or-die situation. Losing to the United States 1-0 in their opener, they need three points in this game to survive the group stage.

The Japan would display how their group soccer could compete with their stronger and speedy African counterparts.

"We were inferior in physical strength," said head coach Yasuharu Sorimachi. "But we have a plan for the next game. We need to be more active. I believe we can succeed."

The Asian side, having come to the Olympics with all under-23 players, used its traditional style based on passing and possession.

Keisuke Honda, with the Dutch club VVV-Venlo, was outstanding in the first match and has the potential to be one of the best midfielders at the Olympics.

"I hope we'll score from moves that flow right through the team. I don't just want to pass the ball, I want to set up goals," said Honda.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2005)