Nigeria won football's Olympic gold medal in Atlanta '96

On the eve of Nigeria's Olympic qualifier against Tunisia, the west Africans' under-23 coach has said he believes his team is good enough to win the competition outright.

Moussa Abdelayi was assistant coach to Dutchman Jo Bonfrere when Nigeria won Africa's first football Olympic gold medal in Atlanta in 1996.

And although the Nigerians have yet to qualify from a tough group alongside Tunisia, Egypt and Senegal, their coach is already looking ahead to Athens next summer.

"We want to go as far as possible, and when I say that, it's to make sure that we win the gold medal," Abdelayi told the BBC Sport website.

"I cannot do more than what we did in Atlanta '96.

"All being well, I think we stand a chance of equalling that performance."

Nigeria currently top Group 1 thanks to their opening round away victory in Egypt in October, while group rivals Tunisia and Senegal both picked up one point each with a goalless draw.

And Abdelayi sees his team's 2-0 victory in Egypt as a tremendous fillip for Nigeria's qualifying campaign.

"That was a great victory because a lot of people didn't expect us to win that match," the coach explained.

"The win is a great boost to us in our preparation towards qualifying for Athens 2004, and we see it as a great tonic."

Not only part of Nigeria's historic success in 1996, Abdelayi also assisted Fanny Amun when the Eaglets won the under-17 World Youth Championship in 1993.

And the 46-year-old is now turning his attentions to the game against Tunisia in the Nigerian city of Bauchi.

"The expectations on our side are to make sure we put up a brilliant performance and win the game," he continued.

"We want to maintain our leadership because if we win on Saturday, we're going to have 6 points and that would give us clear leadership."