Rise of a Football God

(AFCON 2025:)

(Tunisia 0-2 Morocco)

(Date: 14th January, 2026)

…

(Senegal – Nigeria)

(Date: 14th January, 2026)

Tunisia vs Morocco was decided.

Now on to the clash of death, Senegal vs Nigeria.

The game was scheduled to be played in the 2nd biggest stadium in Morocco based in the capital city of Rabat, the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium with a seating capacity of over 69,000 fans.

On the night, the 69,000+ capacity stadium was filled to the brim.

That night, the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah became a coliseum of war.

This was not just a semifinal, this was the battle of death, a clash of titans; a clash of Senegal vs Nigeria, two of Africa's greatest footballing powerhouses, locked in the most intense, nerve-shredding showdown of the tournament.

The buildup to the game itself was filled with tension and when the night eventually came, the air was suffocating with tension.

There was an equal presence of fans supporting both countries as the 2 different fanbases went all out in support of their team.

The Senegalese faithful, draped in green, yellow, and red pounded their drums like war signals, their chants rhythmic, deep, and unrelenting as if summoning their warriors to battle.

Across the stands, a sea of Nigerian green and white erupted with fierce, unyielding energy, their voices shaking the very foundations of the stadium as they screamed chants to support their team.

"Up Super Eagles!"

When the players started marching out of the tunnel, the noise around the stadium hit a crescendo, rising above the roof.

Both nations started with their strongest lineups, holding nothing back.

Nigeria started with a now customary 4-2-3-1 formation.

In between the posts for the Super Eagles stood the imposing figure of Stanley Nwabali, the Nigerian-born goalkeeper. While ahead of him stood a quadruple defensive set-up comprising Samuel Ajayi, William Troost-Ekong, Calvin Bassey, and the electric Ola Aina.

Ahead of them in midfield was the duo of Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, then further ahead was the power-offence quadruple.

Victor Osimhen led the attack as the striker.

To his right and left flanks respectively were Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman, the Brest and Atalanta wingers while behind Osimhen was the core of the Nigerian team, Samuel Moses, the young FC Barcelona star.

It was a formidable lineup, but Senegal's lineup was just as formidable.

Senegal started in a 3-4-3 formation.

In between the posts for the Teranga Lions of Senegal was Edouard Mendy, the ex-Chelsea goalkeeper. Ahead of him was a defensive trio comprising Diallo, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Seck.

Ahead of the defense in midfield was a formidable quadruple of Sarr, Idrissa Gueye, Camara, and Diarra.

As for the attack, it was comprised of the attacking trios of Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, and Ndiaye.

The game was poised to be a clash of titans.

FWEEEEE!

That sound unleashed the demons in the players, they were let loose.

The moment the referee's whistle blew, the match became a battlefield, and the atmosphere turned feral.

At first, it became a contest of physically as the 2 midfields wrestled for the ball, trying to snatch dominance over the game which neither side was outrightly successful at. They were evenly matched.

This continued for a few minutes until the game settled down.

As soon as the game settled down though, they didn't let it stay that way, they amped up the tempo.

BOOM!

The players of both sides clashed with aggressive intent.

And firmly behind them from the stands, the 2 different fanbases supported their teams, roaring at the top of their lungs in support and hate for the other side.

Every touch of the ball was met with a roar of approval or a cacophony of whistles, every foul was greeted with furious protests, and every missed chance sent fans to their knees in agony.

The stadium was literally alive, a living, breathing entity fueled by pure, unfiltered passion.

This was no ordinary game; it was like a derby.

But Sam was used to derby games.

In England, he played derby games against Chelsea, Tottenham, and the likes, other London clubs. And then in Spain, he played in the derby of derbies, the crazy El Classico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

All these games were tough games, but a trend that Sam already established in his career was that he always turned up in the big games.

In those games were everywhere is locked, no space left to attack, everywhere was left airtight, that was when he thrived.

That was when his mamba mentality reared its head.

'Win!'

'Win!' 'Win!' 'Win!'

Sam was the first player to hit the zone state in this game.

And in the 23rd minute of the game, he erupted, proving the difference maker between both sides.

Bam!

Under pressure, Alex Iwobi overhit a cross towards the Senegal 18-yard box that was too high to get to.

All the players in the 18-yard box gave up, but Sam didn't.

Thud!

Kicking the ground with his powerful legs, like a spring, his legs stretched and then he leapt into the air like an elastic frog.

Sam didn't just jump, he also raised his right leg, above his head, after the ball that was flying above him with speed, then…

Bam!

One touch. One silky, delicate touch.

And like an obedient puppy, the ball calmed down, all the momentum of its flight killed in that one touch.

"My GOD! What a leap!"

Even as the commentators raved in shock and the Senegal players finally came back to their senses, realizing the sudden threat where they never expected one, before they could move, Sam already improvised.

After such a crazy ball control, what next?

Having tried the Senegal center backs once already, Sam knew that they won't give him time to settle on the ball if he decided to land.

And so, he improvised in mid-air to shoot.

After controlling the ball by raising his right leg above his head, still suspended in mid-air, Sam twisted his body, his back now facing ground.

And as his right leg descended, including the ball, his left leg swung up.

POW!

An overhead kick!

No one expected that crazy leap and mid-air ball control; no one expected the sudden overhead kick too.

"…!"

Edouard Mendy was rooted to one spot, watching as the ball rushed with speed into the net before his brain could even realize what just happened.

When he realized, Sam was already whirling away in celebration.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLL…!!!" This stadium roared to life.

"ZINEDINE SAM!!!"

"ZINEDINE SAM!!!" The commentators roared shrilly.

"What guts! What temerity! To hit a bicycle kick in the AFCON semifinals, only Samuel Moses would have thought of this, only that madman!"

"And to do it against Senegal, the Teranga Lions, freak!"

"Samuel Moses is a freak!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, peel your eyes and savor every moment of it because you're currently watching the best player in the world in action!"

Sam charged towards the corner flag before sliding on his knees in celebration, pointing at the Nigerian fans who responded with exuberant energy.

"SAM!!!" They chanted at the top of their lungs, tearing their shirts, celebrating, some even wanting to jump into the pitch to celebrate with him.

It was chaos, beautiful chaos that Sam orchestrated.

In the 23rd minute of the game, 0-1 to Nigeria, courtesy of an absolute Sam banger goal.

What a moment to be alive!