Rise of a Football God

Nigeria started with exactly the same formation that they played Lesotho with. As for Benin Republic, they also played with their best lineup.

Just like Lesotho, Benin Republic played in a 4-3-3 formation.

Saturnin Allagbe was their goalkeeper for the evening, while ahead of the goalkeeper stood the quadruple defense of Ryan Adigo in left back, Olivier Verdon and Cedric Hountondji in center defense, and Tamimou Ouorou in right back.

Ahead of the defensive quadruple was a midfield trio of Sessi D'Almeida, Mariano Ahouangbo who were both defensive midfielders, and Junior Olaitan.

Further ahead of the midfield was the attacking trio comprised of Jodel Dossou as the right winger, Steve Mounie playing as the left winger, and Andreas Hountondji playing as the center forward.

From Benin Republic's deployment of 2 defensive midfielders for this game, it was clear that their strategy today was a defensive one.

They wanted to soak the pressure and suffocate the Nigerians, just like Lesotho almost did a week ago.

Just like Lesotho, they had nothing to play for.

While to the Nigerians it was a must-win game, to them, it was just a game of bragging rights. Winning a World Cup qualifier game against Nigeria was a feat to brag about, and this was what they aimed for.

It was a clash of survival vs ambition.

FWEEE!

As soon as the referee's whistle sounded, all hell broke loose as the 2 different convictions pushing the 2 national teams clashed.

Survival vs ambition, qualification vs bragging rights, which would prevail?

As soon as the game started, the roar of the Nigerian fans hit a crescendo, rising through the roof of this stadium as they cheered their team on.

And on the pitch, the players in green responded.

Nigeria quickly showed their dominance in this game, running the Benin Republic players ragged as they were forced to defend against the onslaught of their opponents.

It quickly became evident that compared to the Lesotho game, this Nigerian team was even more cohesive and had much closer chemistry.

Their passes were more seamless than ever before, their combinations effective and lethal as they repeatedly pried the Benin low block open.

Benin Republic defended with their lives but against the attacking onslaught of their opponents, they were proving flimsy.

In this game, one of the Benin Republic players was tasked to mark Sam but such a task…, it was only torture to the player in question.

Sam could not be contained in this game. He was like an unstoppable hurricane, steering the engine called Nigeria with his tyrannical will.

It didn't take too long for the floodgates to open.

As early as the 13th minute of this game, Sam laid his first imprint in this game with tyrannical skill and elegant bearing.

Receiving a pass from Ola Aina all the way from the left, Sam controlled the ball with his chest and as his marker rushed in, calmly, Sam used his momentum against him, flicking the ball above him.

As the ball floated above the player's head, Sam evaded his run, leaving him to collapse to the ground as he charged forward with the ball.@@novelbin@@

Before more Benin players could close him down, he spotted a run, and then…

Bam!

Hitting the ball with the outside of his weaker left boot, Sam unleashed an unreal trivela pass that rose up and curled beyond the reach of the Benin defenders, arriving just ahead of a certain player in green.

Alex Iwobi's late run was timed perfectly, and the pass, perfectly timed and weighted arrived just before he could cross the offside line.

Staying onside, Alex Iwobi took one touch to control the ball and as the Benin goalkeeper charged out, he poked the ball past him and into the net.

"GOALLLL…!!!" The Moshood Abiola stadium turned into a cauldron of noise.

The ecstatic Nigerian fans celebrated the goal exuberantly, numerous fans tearing their clothes in the stands as they celebrated with mad passion.

That goal…, was just the first in a totally convincing onslaught.

In the 23rd minute, Ademola Lookman went haywire, finally bringing his Atalanta form to the national team.

After receiving a pass from Alex Iwobi, the winger went on a mazy run, cutting through multiple players like they were not there as he flexed his silky dribbling skills, arriving inside the box before playing a clever cross.

Bam!

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As soon as the ball was played, Victor Osimhem escaped from his marker and rose high into the air, aiming for the ball.

He got to it!

Bam!

Inclining his head, he directed the ball with his head towards the top right corner, away from the Benin goalkeeper's range.

The ball was hit and floated with pin-point accuracy, nestling in the top corner even as this stadium erupted again.

In barely 25 minutes, Nigeria was already cleanly ahead in this game.

This Nigerian squad was a shadow of its former self, unlike the Nigerian squad that struggled in every other game, unable to score goals.

All that changed was the introduction of a 19-year-old.

Not just any 19-year-old, but Samuel Moses.

A 19-year-old with a nation on his shoulders, a 19-year-old leading a nation to qualification!

For the rest of the first half, Benin defended valiantly, maintaining the scoreline as the first half ended with Nigeria winning 2-0.

When second half started though, the onslaught continued.

In the 58th minute of the game, Sam finally received the ball in a prime position, just outside the 18-yard box as Alex Iwobi set him up.

"…!"

That ball caught the Benin defense off-guard.

"Close him down! Fast!"

They roared but it was already too late as Sam closed the distance to the ball with urgency in his legs, and clarity in his eyes and thoughts.

He knew exactly what he was doing, he knew exactly where he was aiming at, and then…

Sam hit the ball with a Federico Valverdeish power and accuracy.

It was an absolute rocket.

POW!

The Benin goalkeeper dived on instinct but he didn't even see the ball.

Like a phantom ghost, it rushed towards the goal unhindered before tearing its way into the net in the 45th plus 1 minute of this game.

"Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

Ecstatic Nigerian fans broke out the Sam chant in this international game.

Spreading his arms to acknowledge the adoration of the fans, Sam charged towards the corner flag before crossing his arms, doing his Black Panther celebration even as the fans roared excitedly.

It was a terrific game, and it was not over yet.

In the 74th minute, Nigeria won a freekick in a dangerous position.