The USA’s men’s basketball team bounced back from their shock opening-game defeat with a comfortable 120-66 victory over Iran.

The Americans saw their 25-game Olympic winning streak ended by France on Sunday, but never looked in danger of suffering another loss here.

Damian Lillard top-scored with 21 points, while Devin Booker added 16 points and five rebounds.

In total the team sunk 19 three-pointers, with six players ending the match in double figures.

The Americans, who have won gold at the past three Games, can secure their place in the knockout stages with a win against the Czech Republic in their final Group A game on Saturday.

In Group B, Germany also recovered from an opening-game defeat, beating Nigeria 99-92.

Johannes Voigtmann top-scored with 19 points for Germany, who were beaten by Italy in their opener on Sunday.

In Group B’s other match, Jock Landale scored 18 points and seven rebounds to help Australia edge Italy 86-83 and secure their second win of the competition.

Defending champions Brazil eased through to the quarter-finals of the men’s Olympic football, but 2016 silver medallists Germany are eliminated.

Everton striker Richarlison scored two late goals as Brazil beat Saudi Arabia 3-1 to finish top of Group D, with Ivory Coast second after holding Germany to a 1-1 draw.

In Group B, South Korea beat Honduras 6-0 to qualify as group winners.

New Zealand drew 0-0 with Romania to finish second on goal difference.

Brazil looked set to be held to a frustrating draw when a header from Saudi Arabia defender Abdulelah Al-Amri cancelled out Matheus Cunha’s early opener at the Saitama Stadium.

However Richarlison, who hit a hat-trick in Brazil’s opening group game against Germany, edged them ahead again with 14 minutes remaining before sealing the win in stoppage-time.

Germany needed to beat Ivory Coast to make it through, but fell behind midway through the second half when Benjamin Henrichs put the ball into his own net while attempting a tackle in the six-yard box.

Eduard Loewen levelled with a free-kick six minutes later to set up a frantic finish, but despite piling on the pressure Germany could not find a winner.

Hosts Japan became the only side to win all three of their group games after thumping France 4-0 in Yokohama.

Goals from Hiroki Sakai, Takefusa Kubo, Koki Miyoshi and Daizen Maeda sealed the victory and set up a last-eight clash against New Zealand.

Mexico secured second place and will play South Korea next after a 3-0 win against South Africa, who lost all three of their group matches.

Egypt will play Brazil in the quarter-finals after a 2-0 win over Australia secured second place in Group C ahead of Argentina, who could only draw 1-1 with group winners Spain.

Argentina midfielder Tomas Belmonte scored a late equaliser to cancel out Mikel Merino’s opener, but it was not enough to prevent Argentina from slipping to third and bowing out.

Spain, who end with five points from their three group games, face Ivory Coast in the quarter-final.

All four teams in Group B went into the final round of games level on three points each, but it was South Korea who progressed as group winners as a hat-trick from Hwang Ui-jo helped secure a 6-0 win over Honduras, with New Zealand joining them in the quarter-finals.

The Nigeria Football Federation says it is working at a pace to ensure he payment of outstanding bonuses and allowances of the coaches and players of the senior men national team, Super Eagles, as well as salaries owed the coaches of the team. NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said in Abuja on Wedneday that the challenges and disruptions caused by the global coronavirus pandemic are still being felt by government institutions and businesses the world over, and there was no need to pretend that these are normal times.

“The NFF deserves no joy in owing players and coaches their entitlements. The same players and coaches have been well-taken-care of and provided the necessary facilities when things were normal, and as we work assiduously towards conquering the present challenges and seeing sunlight again, we expect the players, coaches and administrative staff to show the same level of understanding that they have been showing over the past 18 months.

“Of course, we are pragmatists and we releaize that these things can be frustrating and some people will boil over and talk about them. It is normal. Last month, during the friendlies in Austria, we were able

to pay some of the outstanding bonuses and allowances. We are working at a pace presently to clear what is remaining. As I speak, we are owing the team bonuses and allowances from only the last two matches,and payments for these two games have been sent to the Central Bank some weeks ago. They will receive the monies shortly. We are equally working to pay the coaches what they are being owed as salaries.”

Dr Sanusi’s comments were in direct reference to a statement credited to Super Eagles’ defender, Leon Balogun on Tuesday saying the NFF was owing the players bonuses and allowances. “We have never denied owing the team. Leon is a senior player that everyone respects for his quality output on the pitch and calmness and forbearance off it, but I do not know which reports he was referring to when he said the NFF was contradicting itself.

“He also talked about playing pitches. Sincerely speaking, the past few years has seen a remarkable improvement in stadia infrastructure across the country. The team had to move round the States because the turf of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja got bad. Now, the pitch is coming back to shape thanks to the efforts of the present Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, who got the respected Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s company to work on it.

“Presently, we have exciting venues in Uyo, Benin City, Asaba, Kaduna and Lagos. Without the team moving round the States, the governments of these States probably would not have devoted much effort into putting these facilities in world-standard shape. There are remarkable improvements on facilities in Ibadan, the National Stadium in Lagos and a new one in Lagos. All these will benefit the teeming youth population of Nigeria who are interested in sports.”