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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Nigerias sports minister apologized to the Olympic mens soccer team and took responsibility Monday for the travel chaos that resulted in players arriving on the same day as their first game in Rio de Janeiro.The team was delayed last week in Atlanta, with one official saying it was because they tried to buy plane tickets to Rio de Janeiro at the last minute and then found a charter plane was too small to carry the entire delegation.They eventually all made it onto a chartered Delta Air Lines jet, arriving in the northern Brazilian city of Manaus about six hours before their first game at the Olympics against Japan on Thursday. Despite the issues, Nigeria won that game 5-4, and then beat Sweden 1-0 on Sunday to become the first team into the quarterfinals.Sports minister Solomon Dalung took responsibility for what he called the unfortunate incident and said in a statement that he went into the teams dressing room after the Sweden game to apologize to players. He didnt give details on how the mess-up occurred.I want to assure you that we appreciate your efforts, and I want to say that its when a man faces challenges that his true ability is tested, Dalung said. I am sure we all have learnt our lessons and will take the lessons to heart going forward.Delta said a communications mix-up had grounded an earlier flight the team was meant to take, but there were reports that the problem was because the Nigerian government hadnt paid for the original charter.Nigerias soccer team is regularly beset by problems, often involving money.A dispute over bonus payments for players at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil led to them refusing to attend a training session and almost caused the Nigerian team to go on strike midway through the tournament. The team also arrived late for the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil -- a World Cup warmup tournament -- after problems over player payments.Nigeria and Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel recently denied reports that he gave $30,000 of his own money to some of his teammates on the Olympic team as an incentive. Fake Football Jerseys .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. Wholesale Football Jerseys China . Kozun faked to the forehand and beat Monsters starter, Calvin Pickard, pad side in the second round for the winner. Spencer Abbott also scored in the shootout for the Marlies (25-13-4). https://www.fakefootballjerseys.com/ . Soukalova missed only one target and completed the 15-kilometre course in 40 minutes, 32.6 seconds for both victories in this seasons individual discipline. Darya Domracheva of Belarus was second, 34. Cheap Football Jerseys Authentic . The 28-year-old from Calgary matched his career best after missing just one shot in his two rounds of shooting in the mens 10-kilometre sprint competition. Smith finished in 23 minutes 15. Wholesale Football Jerseys . Still, Brewers manager Ron Roenicke thought taking him out before the fifth inning was an unusual move. "Im looking up at the board and hes got two hits given up and one run, and Im taking him out after the fourth inning," Roenicke said. When a season of high expectations started for Minnesota, a mid-September series at Target Field between the Twins and the visiting Detroit Tigers was expected to be a fight for postseason position.Playoffs are still in the picture for Detroit. But the optimism created by the Twins 83-79 record in 2015 ended quickly and has led to another long summer as Minnesota begins its final homestand of the season.The Twins send left-hander Hector Santiago (12-8, 4.65 ERA) to the mound to start a three-game series against Detroit on Tuesday. The Tigers counter with left-hander Matt Boyd (5-4, 4.43).While Minnesota (55-95) tries to avoid 100 losses for the first time since losing 102 games in 1982, Detroit is challenging for a playoff spot.The Tigers (79-70) snapped a three-game losing streak with a 9-5 win at Cleveland on Sunday. They sit 2 1/2 games behind Toronto and Baltimore for the final wild-card spot in the American League.We had to win, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said after Sundays win. We feel like weve got to win every single day the rest of the way. If we do, well be in great shape. If we dont, were going to need some help.Playing the Twins has been quite a help.The teams split the four-game series in Detroit last week -- Minnesotas only two wins on a seven-game road trip -- but the Tigers have owned the season series with 12 wins in 16 games.Boyd lost one of those games to the Twins last week, giving up seven runs and eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings. Boyd told MLB.com hes made some adjustments before Tuesdays start.Not a whole lot of tweaking, more just refining, Boyd told MLB.com. Sometimes theres just one or two little things that can take you out of your delivery. That being said, you have to be better in the moment to figure out a way to get it done with that.The Twins offense, in particular second baseman Brian Dozier, is still giving fans reason to watch as another frustrating season concludes. Minnesota is one loss shy of thee 96 it finished with in 2012 and 2013.ddddddddddddIn 2011, the team lost 99 games.Dozier is doing things not seen in Minnesota since the days of Hall of Fame slugger Harmon Killebrew, though. Dozier has a 22-game hitting streak and would set the AL record for home runs by a second baseman with his next homer while playing the position.Dozier has 41 home runs -- the only Twins player besides Killebrew to reach the mark -- and 39 of the homers have come while playing second base.(Dozier has) put together a phenomenal run here in the last 3 1/2 months, Minnesota manager Paul Molitor told MLB.com. And hes putting up historical numbers at his position. The hitting streak speaks to a little bit more of the consistency of his at-bats. Hes doing his job. Hes a catalyst for our offense. At the end of the year, youre going to look at the body of his work and its going to be pretty impressive.Dozier was 7-for-15 with two homers and five RBI during the series in Detroit last week and had two hits in two at-bats against Boyd.But the losses have worn on Dozier, even as his personal achievements have piled up.It doesnt really sit very well, I can tell you that, Dozier told MLB.com of his hitting streak. It is what it is. I couldnt care less, to be honest with you. We didnt get enough of them today. So thats pretty much it.Detroit, which is 6-0 at Target Field this season, isnt sure if it will have its second baseman. Ian Kinsler was hit in the head by a pitch from Clevelands Trevor Bauer on Sunday and was showing symptoms of a concussion following the game.Santiago has settled in after some initial struggles when he was acquired by Minnesota from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline. Santiago has allowed five runs total over his last four starts. He beat Detroit with 5 2/3 innings with one run allowed last week. ' ' '