By Desmond Ekwueme
When a player turns on his talismanic prowess, he delights the world. He makes the world to fall on his feet. He lifts his team. He dwarfs his teammates or colleagues. He becomes the fans favourite.
When a player conjures magic moments, he delivers his team. He bells the cat. He carries the weight and responsibilities of the team on his shoulders. He does exceptional things. He plays a commanding role. He determines the fate of his team. He becomes an instant leader, a self appointed or elected leader and a leader by performance.
When a player lives upto his billings, he does extraordinary things. He brings hope, excitement and drive to his team. He pulls his teammates along. He becomes a good actor whose role if well interpreted challenges his colleagues and help them to perform excellently.
When a player comes to the party, he does not need his coach’s instructions. He automatically becomes the coach on the field of play. His play, pace, moves, runs and dribbles direct and determine those of his teammates. He shines like a million stars. All eyes would be on him.
When a player rises to the occasion, he becomes a winner. He is the soul and heart of his team. He excels and makes his teammates shine even as he shines brightest. He runs the opponents down.
We saw Zinedine Zidane carry France on his shoulders at Germany 2006 World Cup. He was
the spirit that drove the team. He was the light of the team….and as soon as he got the marching orders, the light of France extinguished. Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to carry Portugal and indeed Real Madrid on his shoulders conjuring the magic moments that give both teams victories and their fans joy.
Ahmed Musa before this game against Iceland was a senior squad member of the Super Eagles. A regular who starts from the bench. Perhaps after the lacklustre performance of the team against Croatia where Musa came on as a substitute, Gernot Rohr handed Musa and Kelechi Iheanacho starting shirts.
Musa took his chance to retain his first team shirt. He upped his game. He decided to lift the team but needed to invoke his talismanic prowess. He did….and when the magic moments came, he had a brace of sweet delight that turned a moody nation into celebration.
Yes, the nation before the game wore a moody look. First, it was the ugly memory and anger of the first game against Croatia. And second was the dirty political atmosphere as sad news of slashing, cutting, adding and “padding” of the 2018 budget creates more bitterness and hopelessness for a nation that has not known peace and continues to mourn.
Musa’s mercurial and magical moments erased this moody feeling among millions of Nigerians at least temporarily. The moments were two beautiful scenes of class. First was a World Cup goal which no goalkeeper can stop. Sheer brilliance of one touch stop and control and a close range thunder strike…..and the second was a television cum advertisement goal which made the Icelandic goalkeeper to dive, stretch and even crawl. Football once again takes the centre stage as the sole biggest bonding factor keeping Nigeria united. The country was ignited with celebration. It doesn’t matter the geographical zone anyone comes from…..no one cares about religion, tribe or class of the other. The Nigerian feeling of one and love reigns.
Musa becomes an instant hero reminding all of a similar feat four years ago in the same tournament. He is now a master of braces. It is hoped that he reenact this feat and form against Argentina in the decisive game on Tuesday.
For now Nigerians should keep relishing the fun, joy and excitement of the fall of Iceland courtesy of Musa’s feat. With this brace, Musa is Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer at the World Cup with four goals. Two in Brazil 2014 and two in Russia 2018.
