Rise of a Football God

Draped in the Nigerian flag, holding the golden ball award and the golden boot award, mind stretched taut with heightened emotions, Sam stood, watching…

"Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

His eyes welled with tears. 'This moment…, I wish I can have it frozen forever'.

28 days since the tournament started, 7 games where he had to fight and toil with not just his teammates but his nation, 28 days of pushing his body both physically and mentally beyond its limits, and finally, here he was.

And then tonight.

The tension, the heartbreak, the war of 90 minutes, it all led to this.

Sam smiled brightly; he would bask in the moment.

He waved at the fans, eliciting even more cheers in this stadium and then he finally stepped aside with his 2 trophies.

And then, the moment that a nation waited for.

The moment of glory.

The Super Eagles assembled on the grand podium, not just individual players anymore, standing behind their captain, eyes fixed on the golden AFCON trophy that was waiting before them.

All of their eyes burned with eager fire and anticipation.

The CAF President handed the trophy over with a congratulatory handshake, William Troost-Ekong taking it with a polite smile.

In that moment, time seemed to stop.

A deep breath. A pause.

Then, the captain lifted the trophy high into the night sky.

BOOM!

A massive explosion of green and white confetti erupted.

The stadium shook with the roar of Nigerian fans as fireworks painted the sky in golden bursts, sending the energy in this stadium again into a fever pitch.

Sam felt excitement and joy fill his whole being.

Alongside his teammates, the Super Eagles players jumped, hugged, and danced, some falling to the ground in overwhelmed joy.

Osimhen drummed on the trophy with both hands, Stanley Nwabali lifted Sam onto his shoulders, and the team formed a circle, dancing in unity.

The trophy passed from hand to hand, each player kissing it, some holding it close, others lifting it high, basking in their immortality.

Ahh…, what an experience, what a moment.

Memories for a lifetime…

As the celebrations continued, the Moroccan players stood watching, some with admiration, most with longing, others with tears in their eyes.

This was the trophy that they wanted most after fighting so hard for so long.

They had fought with everything, but tonight was not theirs. Tonight, the Super Eagles soared the highest, besting every other nation in the tournament.

In the stands, Nigerian fans waved their flags furiously, dancing in endless celebration.

In that moment, Noah finally understood Peter Drury's commentary in the FIFA World Cup final 2022 after Argentina won.

'…and a nation shall tango all night long!'

He smiled. 'Hehe, if the stadium is like this, I wonder how back home in Nigeria is like'.

'I guess… chaos, and commotion, and joy, and jubilation!' He grinned.

In Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Asaba, streets would be filled with people chanting, singing, and dancing till dawn.

Truly, tonight, Nigerians shall tango all night long.

Thinking of this, instinctively, Sam wanted to be in his girlfriend's arms and when he looked back to where his family was, his smile widened.

There Kayla was, a big smile on his face, a flower bouquet on her hand, waving at him as soon as she noticed him look in her direction.

Sam's smile widened. He could no longer hold himself.

Leaving his teammates, he erupted in a sprint. With a big smile, Kayla also ran towards him and she jumped into his arms.

Hugging his girlfriend tightly, Sam twirled round with her.

When he dropped her, he engulfed her rosy lips in a long sensual kiss.

"Ahem…," the sound of a clearing throat was what interrupted the kiss.

When Sam looked, what greeted him was the glare of his little sister whose face was as red as a potato. "Sam!" She hissed. "You're on life camera!"

Sam looked at the camera focused on him. "Who cares?" He laughed.

Mr. Moses looked at him, brimming with pride. "That's my son!"

Mrs. Moses didn't retort though. Like her husband, she looked at their son with pride and then, "Sam, be active, I want my grandson soon!"

Sam almost stumbled.

But then, with a big smile on his face, he finally decided to take personal pictures with his family.

Once one of his teammates noticed, he walked closer.

After greeting his parents politely, Victor Osimhen became the one to take a picture of Sam and his family to commemorate this night.

As the camera flashed, a big smile on Sam's face, he could not help but think back to that night…, the night of the FIFA World Cup final 2022.

That was when everything changed.

Since then, from playing in the rough field of the Delta State University in a Christmas Game, he graduated to the professional pitch of Enyimba FC in Abba, and then Fulham's Craven Cottage, before eventually settling in the Spotify Camp Nou.

And now, here he was, in the grandest stage of African continental football.

'It feels like a dream… but I've really come a long way'.

Tonight, Africa had witnessed an unforgettable tournament.

Nigeria had conquered.

And with the AFCON trophy in their hands, they stood as the undisputed Kings of the continent.

After taking pictures with his family, he also took with his teammates, every single one of them with the AFCON trophy, and then he also took with their coach.

The players were the protagonists tonight, but the role of the coach was not to be understated. Without Eric Chelle's tactics, they won't be here.

Not just Sam, the other Super Eagles players acknowledged their coach as with Sam carrying him on his shoulders, they also paraded their coach round the stadium to the fans.

After that, the celebrations finally started waning in the stadium, moving outside the stadium.

After the celebrations at the stadium, Sam and his family finally went to the hotel where they already booked ahead of time.

That night, he ate a delicious African meal made by his mom.

And then, alone with his girlfriend in their hotel room, they had a night to remember to commemorate it even more.

Celebrations would continue in Nigeria.