I remembered the *HISTORIC FOOTBALL* match between *NIGERIA* and *BRAZIL* in *Atlanta 1996*.
Brazil was the king of global football and they knew it. So, Nigeria losing to Brazil that night would not be a big deal.
Gosh! Brazil dealt with us that night. Till around *77th* minutes (about 12 minutes to the end of the game) Brazil was obviously dominating the game. The score line was Brazil 3, Nigeria 1.
Despite the Brazil squad including star names such as Bebeto and Ronaldo, Nigerians watching the game still think Nigeria did not deserve such humiliation by Brazil boys, we had been beaten mercilessly. Nigerians became angry toward the end of the match; many had turned off their Television sets, some were shedding tears. While few hoped and prayed that we would not be further disgraced with yet another goal.
But the unimaginable happened in the game.
At about *78th* minutes Victor Ikepba stroked from 20 meters to score the second goal, everything changed beyond the 3:2 score line. Pressure came upon Brazil. And hope for the Nigeria players, they became more motivated and began to fire shots from every angle.
Then another miracle, at the *90th* minute, just before the final whistle, Kanu Nwankwo turned and flipped the ball over Dida and it was another goal, the equalizer. What a wonderful match!
And there was a rule then, *“the Golden Goal”*. That the first to score in the extra time wins the game.
Then came the decisive goal from Papilo in just *3 minutes* of the *extra time*… And that was how the *MESSY* game became a *MESSAGE*.
A *LOT* can still be done this year to make it a *GLORIOUS* year, the remaining part of the year is *SUFFICIENT* to define the whole year. Don't loose *HOPE* now. It is too early to give up on your beautiful *EXPECTATIONS* for this year. It is *NOT OVER* until it *IS OVER*. Wipe off the tears and buckle your shoes.
In the remaining Days, Weeks and Months of this Year, it is
*11TH month(11TH Hour)*
NOVEMBER to REMEMBER month of SUDDEN TURNAROUND.
Brazil was the king of global football and they knew it. So, Nigeria losing to Brazil that night would not be a big deal.
Gosh! Brazil dealt with us that night. Till around *77th* minutes (about 12 minutes to the end of the game) Brazil was obviously dominating the game. The score line was Brazil 3, Nigeria 1.
Despite the Brazil squad including star names such as Bebeto and Ronaldo, Nigerians watching the game still think Nigeria did not deserve such humiliation by Brazil boys, we had been beaten mercilessly. Nigerians became angry toward the end of the match; many had turned off their Television sets, some were shedding tears. While few hoped and prayed that we would not be further disgraced with yet another goal.
But the unimaginable happened in the game.
At about *78th* minutes Victor Ikepba stroked from 20 meters to score the second goal, everything changed beyond the 3:2 score line. Pressure came upon Brazil. And hope for the Nigeria players, they became more motivated and began to fire shots from every angle.
Then another miracle, at the *90th* minute, just before the final whistle, Kanu Nwankwo turned and flipped the ball over Dida and it was another goal, the equalizer. What a wonderful match!
And there was a rule then, *“the Golden Goal”*. That the first to score in the extra time wins the game.
Then came the decisive goal from Papilo in just *3 minutes* of the *extra time*… And that was how the *MESSY* game became a *MESSAGE*.
A *LOT* can still be done this year to make it a *GLORIOUS* year, the remaining part of the year is *SUFFICIENT* to define the whole year. Don't loose *HOPE* now. It is too early to give up on your beautiful *EXPECTATIONS* for this year. It is *NOT OVER* until it *IS OVER*. Wipe off the tears and buckle your shoes.
In the remaining Days, Weeks and Months of this Year, it is
*11TH month(11TH Hour)*
NOVEMBER to REMEMBER month of SUDDEN TURNAROUND.
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