Rise of a Football God

The group stage of the 2025 AFCON tournament was over.

Now, on to the round of 16 stage.

The group stage was like a sieve, weeding out the pretenders in the tournament away from the true challengers who made it through the challenge.

Now, 8 games of unmatched intensity.

16 nations duking it out in a knockout battle.

(AFCON 2025:)

(Round of 16:)

(Zimbabwe – Egypt)

(Date: 3rd January, 2026)

…

(Morocco – Mali)

(Date: 3rd January, 2026)

…

(Tunisia – Benin)

(Date: 4th January, 2026)

…

(Algeria – Ivory Coast)

(Date: 4th January, 2026)

…

(Cameroon – Tanzania)

(Date: 5th January, 2026)

…

(Nigeria – Angola)

(Date: 5th January, 2026)

…

(Botswana – Sudan)

(Date: 6th January, 2026)

…

(Senegal – Burkina Faso)

(Date: 6th January, 2026)

Out of the 24 African nations that competed in the tournament from the first group stage game, these were the 16 that were left standing after the bloodbath of the group stage.

They've won the first battle, but they were yet to win the war.

The next round of the battle was even fiercer and crazier than the first, against much more formidable opponents, the round of 16 stage.

But before the AFCON tournament round of 16 started, the players had 2 more days of rest and training to prepare for the decisive game.

Also, the day after the last group stage game was New Year's Day.

Since they were in Morocco and for such an important reason too, 1st January being New Year's Day didn't mean that the players got a day off though.

They still had a tough round of 16 game to play in just 2 days.

The Nigerian team was not excluded from this either.

Eric Chelle didn't give his players the day off, but he was sensitive enough to limit today's training to the minimum, giving his players all the time they needed to catch up with their family and celebrate the emotion of a new year.

Sam was focused on his football, he was determined to lead his nation to reclaiming the AFCON title, but despite that, he was also a family man.

This was why Sam didn't use the time Eric Chelle gave them for his extra training like usual. Rather, he used it for something else.

Sam had a video call with his family first.

"Hey mom".

"Hey my baby boy!" An enthusiastic Mrs. Moses waved through the camera at her son. "Happy New Year!" She cheered.

"Same to you mom". Sam smiled.

"Son, happy new year". Mr. Moses chipped in.

"Hey, how's new year like in Morocco?"

Sam looked at his sister through the phone, a weird look on his face. "You're still staying with mom and dad?"

"What do you mean?" Sophia snapped.

Sam chuckled. "I mean, after so long, you're in the university already. I thought by now, you'd have relocated to stay with Ian in London".

Sophia snorted. "Apparently, I'm not worth schooling in London, right?" She glared at him. "That's why you didn't sponsor my own overseas studying, right?"

"…"

Sam was speechless, totally stumped as he looked at his sister.

"This…," he was short of words to say, in the end he chuckled. "Really, Sophia? That's so petty".

"Did you tell me and I didn't pay for it?"

Sam looked at his mom, sighing. "Mom, see this…, comment!"

Mrs. Moses shrugged, and smiled. "She's just pulling your legs. I suggested it to her, but she said she wanted to experience at least one year of schooling in a Nigerian government university before making the switch abroad".

Sam looked at his sister again, and smirked, finally understanding. "Hah…, you got me there". He chuckled.

"I remember you having this childhood obsession of going to the university". He chuckled again. "So, how was the experience?"

Sophia tried to stay strong at first, but then it crumbled.

"Horrible". She cried.

Sam laughed. "Is it really that bad?"

"Don't get me started big bro!" Sophia was triggered. "They deceived me. Going to a Nigerian university is the worst move I ever made in my life!"

Sam froze. 'Well, shit…, here we go again'.

Sophia continued ranting.

"They're frustrating as hell!"

"The lecturers are literal embodiments of suffering and frustration!"

"For a simple assignment, they can go the extra mile just to make sure that students suffer to get it done!"

"It's as if…, as if they take joy in our suffering!"

When Sophia was finally done ranting, she was left breathing heavily.

Sam hesitated. "Umm…, sorry?"

"Get lost! I don't need your sorry". Sophia snapped again. "I just wanted to say it out". She shrugged. "Anyways, schooling here sucks".

"Ok, can we talk about the good things now?"

"Yeah, yeah, the good things!"

Sophia's mood suddenly experienced a big change, becoming bubbly. "Apart from the academic and official problems, in terms of the overall school life experience, I'd say its not that bad".

"Sam, did you know, AY and Bovi came to my school last week!"

Sam was stunned. "Who's AY and Bovi?"

Sophia fumed. "They're very famous Nigerian comedians! They're the literal Godfathers of Nigerian comedy. When comedy first started becoming famous around the country, they were the leaders then".

Sam nodded slowly. "Oh…, I never knew".

"Also, also I met a few popular musicians during this period of just 2 semesters. Even Davido came one time!"

Well, Sam called his family to enjoy family time on New Year's Day.

He never expected Sophia to dominate the whole thing.

He sighed. 'Last borns…'

In the end, after Sophia was done talking about her school life, Mr. Moses finally started, focusing on his questions on football and the AFCON tournament.

Mr. Moses was Sam's father, but he was also an avid football fan.

As a lover of the sport for decades, if there was one thing Mr. Moses truly loved apart from FC Barcelona winning the UEFA Champions League again, it was also to witness Nigeria win another AFCON trophy.

This was why he spoke with his son, talking about the tournament even if they were supposed to be talking light-heartedly to enjoy the new year mood now.

Mr. Moses asked about the environment and camaraderie in the squad, he wanted to know that the players were all in their best state of mind.

Afterall, it played a big role in big football tournaments like the AFCON.

After Mr. Moses was done laying out his mind, Mrs. Moses took over again and her conversation deviated towards a certain person, Kayla.

"So…, Sam," she winked at him. "When are you doing to do it?"

"Do what?"

"Tie the knot you dummy!"

"Ah, this…," Sam sighed. "I just feel like its not the right time yet".

Mrs. Moses' face changed. "What are you waiting for you bastard son? I'm telling you now, this old woman wants a grandson!"

"But mom, you're not even old yet".

"It doesn't matter!" She snapped.

In the end, Sam sighed and had to relent. "Don't worry mom. I'll make sure it doesn't stay too long anymore. And rest assured, the moment that I make the decision, you'll be the first person that I tell".

"Ok, good boy". She grinned, now satisfied.

After that, they talked about multiple different topics, the previous year in general and all that happened and then at the end of the video call, Mrs. Moses gave her son one last reminder.

"Go speak with Kayla now".

Sam nodded. "Ok mom".

After cutting the call, he didn't dial Kayla immediately though. Rather, he made a few phone calls and spent some money, arranging Sophia's official transfer from Nigeria to UK to study abroad.

Only after that did he finally put a video call to his girlfriend.

As soon as Kayla spoke, Sam felt like he was suddenly plunged into a pool of flowers and love. "Babe, how are you doing?"

"I'm good Mi Paz".

"Mi what?"

"Mi Paz". Kayla smiled mischievously. "You decided to start calling me Mi Corazon after learning a few Spanish. So I decided to do some Spanish lessons myself, and now I want to call you Mi Paz".

She grinned. "It means My Heart".

Hearing that, Sam smiled brightly. "What I'd do for you to be in my arms right now, on this day". He sighed. "Alas, we have an important game to play".

"It's fine babe. You focus on your football, win, make suer you do!"

"After the tournament, we'll have all the time in the world for ourselves".

"You're right babe". Sam smiled. "Thanks for understanding".

"It's fine, I know you're not cheating".

Sam chuckled. "How are you so sure?"

"I know you". Kayla said confidently. "You're so stuck up with your life and football that you don't even have time sometimes to have a luck, I don't reckon you have the time to spend on another girl".

"Besides, you love me".

Sam grinned. "Well, babe, you're right about that".

"I love you, and I want to keep on loving you more".

"Me too Mi Paz". She smiled.

In the end, the 2 lovers continued teasing themselves on the video call, talking about different topics till they were tired.

Tired and on the bed, they continued their video call till finally, Kayla had to forcibly end it so Sam could rest and focus on his training the next day.

Sam slept soundly that day.

Tomorrow, training begins.