AFCON Defeat: Sorry, Nigerians

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While the 2023 (That’s the actual year it was given) Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, lasted, Nigerians could be said to have temporarily forgotten their woes in the country as they united in support of their national male football team, the Super Eagles.

The Eagles progress was followed religiously by many Nigerians who cheered every victory, even paying with their lives after five Nigerians died of heart attack in the semi-final match with South Africa, despite Nigeria winning that match. It showed the passion with which Nigerians followed their team.

But last Sunday, the unthinkable happened. Nigeria lost for the first time in the competition to the host team, Ivory Coast, in the final, losing 2-1. The streets of the country went quiet and the mood changed. There was wailing everywhere and the blame game began.

It was a crushing blow to a people torn apart by bad governance and who use sports, especially football, to cushion their misery. Victory at the AFCON would certainly have given Nigerians much to cheer but it was not to be. However, there is not much anyone can do about it, as the trophy has gone to Ivory Coast rather than Nigeria.

But beyond the pain of the loss, there is one thing the Nigerian leadership should glean from the entire experience and that is the need to forge the right bond which will get the best out of the citizens.

While the competition lasted, Nigerians saw themselves as one, regardless of their ethnic and religious divide. The players played like one big family too. This is one thing lacking in Nigeria where the people have been torn apart by ethnicity and religion by politicians who profit from such situations.

It is a pity that despite the lessons football and other major sports have been teaching us over the years on national unity and cohesion, our leaders have contrived to subsume them while wilfully pitching citizens against themselves for selfish ends. The leadership has continually denied joy to Nigerians while feeding fat on the commonwealth of the citizens. It is thus only through sports that the citizenry find succor and when that is also beyond their reach, depression sets in.

Only God knows how a victory on Sunday would have lifted many Nigerians off depression and brought smiles to their faces. But that was not to be.

Consequently, we can only urge Nigerians to take heart, persevere and continue to have hopes that one day, things will go well. After all, is it not said that the hour before dawn is darkest?

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