Rise of a Football God

"GOALLLLLL…!!!" Nigerian fans in the stadium roared.

In the 77th minute, 2-2…

The game was level again.

"COME ON!!!" Victor Osimhen roared.

The Nigerian striker didn't just celebrate in one place though.

Dodging his teammates, he charged towards the corner flag, all the while pumping his fists aggressively out of sheer euphoria and excitement.

A goal to draw your country level in the semifinal of the AFCON tournament, there were few goals better for a career highlight reel than this goal.

This was a goal that every striker yearned to score for their country, and Victor Osimhen just scored it.

Of course, he was ecstatic.

Of course, he felt on top of the world.

As soon as he arrived at the corner flag, Victor Osimhen went on his knees, all emotional as he pointed his fingers up to heaven in gratitude.

With that goal, Nigeria was on again.

The game was still on!

One more thing though, it would not be a goal without the raving of the commentators. "What a game it is!"

"What a goal!"

"Born in Nigeria, bred in Napoli, a striker forged in blood finally finds his moment in the semifinal of the AFCON tournament!"

"A goal for the Super Eagles!"

"A goal forevermore!"

"What a moment to be alive!"

"What a game!"

"First, it was 0-1 to Nigeria, courtesy of the young genius, Samuel Moses from a bicycle kick to never forget!"

"And then, in the blink of an eye, Senegal leveled, Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea being the savior for the Teranga Lions!"

"And then, even faster than the first time, Senegal scored again, this time from a thunderbolt from Idrissa Gueye!"

"Then, it was 2-1 to Senegal, from 0-1 down!"

"At that point, we thought we've seen it all but little did we know we were just starting. The Super Eagles kept on pushing, again and again, and finally, in the 77th minute of the game, they got a reward for their persistence".

"Another goal…, 2-2!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, peel your eyes open because you're witnessing a classic of classics in the AFCON tournament, a game that is not forgotten years and decades after it is played".

"That is what we are bearing witness to today".

"A classico!"

"The game is level again, who shall prevail or are we going to penalties?"

From the beginning of this game, the tension between both sides was high and now, after Victor Osimhen's goal, the tensions boiled over.

While Osimhen celebrated his goal, nobody knew who started it first but Frank Onyeka and Idrissa Gueye quickly clashed on the pitch, exchanging words and needing the referee to intervene.

The referee branded his card, handing 2 yellow cards to them each.

The tension was now even more palpable.

But then, even that could not stop the progression of this game.

FWEEEE!

The referee's whistle sounded again, the signal to continue the game and the war of fire and brimstone continued in this Moroccan stadium.

Bam! Bam!

Both countries played with even more urgency and intensity.

Both wanted the winning goal, the goal that would seal the game and establish them as legends of African football.

By now, both coaches already made changes to their lineups, bringing some fresh legs to increase mobility on the pitch.

The intensity of the game increased even more, end to end, extremely heated. The fans in the stadium stands held their breaths.

The tension was also getting to them, making their voices lower than normal, but they were soon triggered…

BAM!

The ball grazed the bar before going off for a goal kick off another Idrissa Gueye shot, and the Nigerian fans could not help their blood pressure rising.

The Senegalese fans were no different either.

After Victor Osimhen's goal, the Senegal defense finally adapted, noting the threat of a rampant Viktor Osimhen. And with the defense being so compact, they were able to marshal and keep the 2 strikers quiet, but not the ACM though.

Nigeria's central attacking midfielder was still everywhere.

Sam chased every ball as if he never got tired, dribbled as if he had lungs of Dragons. He was drenched in sweat but never stopped fighting.

But despite it all though, the Teranga Lions found the breakthrough first, in the 84th minute of the game.

Again, it was Nicolas Jackson.

And again, it was a pass from Ismaila Sarr.

Whoosh!

The ball rushed into the 18-yard box courtesy of an Ismaila Sarr cross, making the Nigerian defense to react in response.

But then…, Calvin Bassey slipped!

"…!"

Originally, Nicolas Jackson already gave up hope of getting to that ball but as soon as he noticed Calvin Bassey slip, adrenaline filled his body.

Thud!

The Senegalese striker dug his left leg on the ground, using the momentum to push himself like a spring into motion, stretching his right leg out in the process, and then…

Bam!

That was all the Nigerian goalkeeper heard.

Stanley Nwabali calculated the trajectory of the ball, diving after it but Nicolas Jackson's long legs were what confused the Nigerian goalkeeper.

A normal striker's legs would not be long enough to reach that ball, but Jackson's legs were long enough, poking the ball into the net.

Silence, then…

BOOM!

The Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah exploded in ecstasy.

Nicolas Jackson celebrated by charging to the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration even as he pumped his fists with passion.

In the 84th minute, 3-2…

Agony. Regret, anger became the theme among the Nigerians.

The commentators raved. Senegalese fans rejoiced; Nigerian fans were stunned.

It seemed all but over, but then, just 3 minutes after Senegal's goal, Nigeria proved their credentials as tournament favorites.

Like a bee, the Super Eagles stung.

And this time, it was Alex Iwobi, orchestrated by Sam.

In the final few minutes of the game, losing?

Sam lost it, he felt like he was going crazy. Inside his head felt like a chaotic volcano that was about to erupt.

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

It kept on screaming in his head.

And then when the ball eventually touched his leg this time, he went gaga!

Sam went on one of those mazy runs, cutting through Senegal like a hot knife through butter, skipping past challenges like they were not there, long enough, deep enough till he was in Senegal's 18-yard box, and then…

Bam!

He pushed the ball back to Alex Iwobi since multiple defenders already blocked his path. With his run, he created space for his teammates.

As soon as he pushed the ball, Alex Iwobi erupted.

POW!

A shot executed with anger and rage.

Like a missile, it tore through the air to its destination. Edouard Mendy dived but he stood no chance, the ball tore its way into the net!

And then…

"COME ON!!!"

Pupils dilated, veins popping all over his body like molten fire in a volcano, Sam screamed passionately despite the fact that he was not the one who scored the goal even as he turned to face Alex Iwobi.

"COME ON!"

Alex Iwobi screamed back at him as they jumped at each other, bumping their chest against each other in celebration.

In the 87th minute of this game, 3-3!

At this moment, Sam didn't feel like a professional football player alongside his teammates at all.

Rather, he felt like a gladiator.