Rise of a Football God

FWEEEEE!

The full-time whistle.

3-3.

Senegal and Nigeria could not be separated in 90 minutes.

Both countries were stacked with ballers, evenly matched after an incredible game of 90 minutes. And now, over to extra-time.

Before that, this was the game in numbers.

[23rd minute: 1st goal- Nigeria]

[Goalscorer: Samuel Moses]

[Assist Provider: Alex Iwobi]

…

[43rd minute: 2nd goal- Senegal]

[Goalscorer: Nicolas Jackson]

[Assist Provider: Ismaila Sarr]

…

[47 + 2nd minute: 3rd goal- Senegal]

[Goalscorer: Idrissa Gueye]

…

[77th minute: 4th goal- Nigeria]

[Goalscorer: Victor Osimhen]

[Assist Provider: Viktor Boniface]

…

[84th minute: 5th goal- Senegal]

[Goalscorer: Nicolas Jackson]

[Assist Provider: Ismaila Sarr]

…

[87th minute: 6th goal- Nigeria]

[Goalscorer: Alex Iwobi]

[Assist Provider: Samuel Moses]

A 6-goal thriller after 90 minutes.

90 minutes of unforgettable, intense football.

Alex Iwobi got a goal and assist, Sam got a goal and assist, Idrissa Gueye got a goal, Ismaila Sarr got 2 assists, Nicolas Jackson got 2 goals.

There were so many contenders for the man of the match award.

It was a game straight out of the top drawer, incredible football was played across the 90 minutes that just passed.

This game, literally all the stars in both countries showed up.

But now, it was extra-time.

Huddled up in the stadium alongside their coach, for the first time in a long time, Sam noticed that his breathing was extremely ragged even as he listened to the words of their coach who addressed them.

On the other side, the Senegal coach also addressed his players.

And then…

FWEEE!

The first half of extra-time started.

And once again, Nigeria and Senegal refused to give in to their opponents, coming out to play football like they were not the same players who just played 90 minutes of non-stop attacking football.

On the stands, the fans of both sides had their hearts on their throat.

It was a wonder why an emergency was not called yet in the stadium for a heart attack emergency, that was how vicious and vivid the tension was.

In the first half of extra-time, the players of both sides kept on giving their all, buzzing in attack and staying even more defensively disciplined as the last thing they wanted was conceding a goal at this stage of the game.

In the end, Ademola Lookman got the best chance of the first half of extra-time as after another one of those mazy runs from him, he unleashed a shot across the face of goal only for it to graze the bar before rolling off for a goal kick.

Ademola Lookman grabbed his head in disbelief. "F*ck!" He cursed.

The game continued but then the referee's whistle sounded again, bringing the first half of extra time to an end after 15 more minutes of football.

During the second half of extra time, both coaches made changes again, and of the changes, Eric Chelle took Ademola Lookman off for Kelechi Iheanacho, already preparing for the penalty shootout.

The Senegal coach's changes reflected the same thing as among his changes, one of them included introducing Sadio Mane into the pitch this late into the game.

And with that, the second half of extra-time started.

Another 15 minutes of less intense football, but that took nothing away from the tension of the game.

Rather, it was even more tense than all the other halves.

Afterall, at this stage of the game, it was already too late to rally round to overcome a deficit. Any country that scored now was the winner, that was the consensus on the pitch and among the fans.

And so, both countries defended desperately for their lives.

In the 108th minute, spotting Edouard Mendy slightly off his lines, Sam hit another one of those trademark shots from the halfway line.

But this time, Edouard Mendy covered ground fast, snatching the ball from the air before it could enter the net.

Another reason why it was easier for Mendy was because Sam didn't hit it perfectly. After 108 minutes of such intense football, Sam's legs were like jelly.

He was dead tired and exhausted, but he kept on pushing.

In the 113th minute, Idrissa Gueye tried another of those crazy shots of his, this time forcing Calvin Bassey to make a desperate block with his body on the line.

At this point, the players no longer cared about injury or taking care of themselves, they just wanted to win and they did everything they could for it.

In the 114th minute, in a counterattack orchestrated by Calvin Bassey's block, Kelechi Iheanacho received the ball in the wing before going on a mazy run, charging through players buoyed by his fresh legs.

He cut into the box successfully but when it finally reached the execution part, Kelechi Iheanacho skied the ball!

Groans of frustration and disappointment quickly filled the stadium.

Iheanacho was also disappointed at himself, but there was nothing he could do about it.

There was no more time, the game was drawing to an end.

And then, in the 118th minute, in a moment that definitely gave millions of Nigerian fans multiple heart attacks, Sadio Mane, the Senegalese legend received the ball in the 18-yard box one-on-one with Stanley Nwabali, Nigeria's goalkeeper!

"…!"

Trepidations ran through the hearts of the Super Eagles fans, but then, Stanley Nwabali pulled a Jesus moment, creating a miracle.

Bam!

Sadio Mane hit the ball at point-blank range but from that range, showing reflexes similar to those of the Flash, Stanley Nwabali's left hand moved.

The ball struck his hand, and bounced.

It was still a loose ball!

"…!"

Sadio Mane pounced but once again showing inhuman reflexes, Stanley Nwabali jumped, pushing the ball away before Sadio Mane could get to it.

BOOM!

That miraculous double-save elicited roars of adoration from the fans of the Super Eagles that filled this stadium, some tearing their clothes in the passion.

It was a moment of individual brilliance, and it was recognized by the world, the commentators especially talking non-stop about it.

Stanley Nwabali saved Nigeria, and then…

FWEEEE!

The referee's whistle sounded again.

Extra-time was over, and now, on to penalties.