NIGERIA 1, EGYPT 0: ONE MONTH OF UNFETTERED UNITY IS HERE. KUDOS TO AUSTIN EGUAVOEN AND SUPER EAGLES.

The 2021 CAF Nation’s cup, kicked off precisely three days ago. The host nation, Cameroon, came back from a goal down to beat a hard fighting Burkina Faso 2 goals to 1. Surprisingly, the almighty Black stars of Ghana on Monday, lost to the Atlas lions of Morocco. Other group stage matches took place along side the aforementioned. Tuesday, the 11th of January, 2022, was the big one between Nigeria and the Pharaohs of Egypt.

An unpredictable fixture by any standard. Why? Both nations parade some of the best talents in the continent. The Egyptian national team, boast of Mohammad Salah. A soccer prodigy. The Super Eagles of Nigeria, sadly had lost her two most influential stars, Odion Ighalo and Victor Osimhen to the greatest enemy of football, injuries. But, they still had Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Taiwo Awoniyi and others. Nigeria was never going to roll over. And that’s exactly what happened. MO Salah was not only rendered ineffective, the entire Egyptian team was incapacitated and made to look ordinary on the night.

Super Eagles’ dominance from the blast of the whistle to the final moment of the game, was simply breathtaking. Prayer is that, they continue in that fashion till the end of the tournament. They have got to. This is the only occasion that brings the entire nation together. Once it has to do with soccer, Nigerians forget the question of North South dichotomy.

Christians and Muslims come together under one canopy to cheer Nigeria on. All ethnic groups forget their differences and rally around a united Nigeria. PDP and APC, temporarily bury their ideological differences if there exist any such thing. That is the power of the round leather game called soccer. We pray that Nigeria goes far in the tournament. Bring on the next opponent….