With Sam's heroics yesterday, getting another goal and assist, taking his tally to a more ridiculous figure of 11 goals and 5 assists, Sam's na was already immortalized in this AFCON tournant but he was not the hero last night.
Last night was Stanley Nwabali's night.
The Nigerian goalkeeper won the man of the match award at the end of the ga, having pushed Nigeria over the edge to win the ga.
And with that, a date was finally set in the final.
A date between 2 of the favorites that were recognized at the beginning of the tournant, a date between Morocco and Nigeria.
(AFCON 2025:)
(Final:)
(Morocco – Nigeria)
(Date: 18th January, 2026)
Both countries didn't have it all smooth-sailing for them.
Just like Nigeria faced a big hurdle yesterday in Senegal, having to fight through the Teranga Lions, Morocco also passed through a trial of blood in the form of clashing against the Pharaohs of Egypt led by the Egyptian King.
And just like Nigeria, they passed their test with flying colors.
And now, these 2 nations were to clash in the final of the tournant.
After their crazy performances since the beginning of the tournant till now, both countries were in crazy form.
The final was billed to be another clash of titans, another ga where 2 giants of African football would clash in a battle to the death.
But before that, another ga was scheduled in the tournant.
The ga for 3rd place.
(AFCON 2025:)
(Match for 3rd place:)
(Tunisia – Senegal)
(Date: 17th January, 2026)
The 3rd place match would be played a day before the final, but even that would only take place in 3 days.
And so, Sam and his teammates had a little ti to recover from the ga that drained them of all strength.
Playing 120 minutes against Senegal drained the Nigerian squad.
And now, led by their coach, they all went through post-match recovery procedures to recover as soon as possible for the final clash that would take place in the largest stadium in Morocco, the Grande Stade de Tanger stadium in Tangier.
Before the 3rd place match, in one of the evenings as Sam continued recovering from the exertion of the Senegal ga, he spoke with his girlfriend.
"Hey babe".
"My big baby," she smiled. "How are you faring?"
Sam smiled tiredly. "It's tough, honestly, far tougher than I expected". He chuckled. "I never expected staying and maintaining my body at the top level to perform at my best every ga in a tournant would be this hard".
He sighed. "Now, I admire what Lionel ssi and that Argentina team did during the 2022 World Cup even more".
Kayla smiled. "ssi is your idol, right?"
Sam smirked. "Is that even a question?"
She chuckled. "Well, make your idol proud. Replicate what he did with his country with your country".
Sam smiled. "I don't even know if ssi watches the AFCON tournant, but I want to believe he does". He grinned. "That's one of the things motivating to keep on giving my best for each and every ga".
"You can do it babe!" Kayla smiled. "It's just 1 more ga remaining now".
"Yeah," Sam nodded. "1 more ga… against Morocco".
"You guys can win!"
Sam smiled again. "I know we can, but…"
He sighed. "You know, most of my teammates got to the last AFCON final too only to lose to Ivory Coast, the then hosts in the final".
"The situation this ti is so similar, and I feel like the trauma of that last AFCON tournant is already getting to them".
"Then help them!"
"Huh?"
Kayla smiled. "You dummy, it's so simple! Have you forgotten your ti in Fulham, when you loved playing the captain even as you were not the captain?"
"It's one of the things that drew to you, those antics of yours".
"It made you seem so confident".
"I am confident!" Sam stressed.
Kayla laughed. "Anyways, your teammates need you know. Just like you used to motivate your teammates back in Fulham, motivate them".
"With Fulham, you broke trends that nobody ever expected".
"You won the premier league with Fulham Sam! Surely, winning the AFCON with Nigeria is not an impossible task".
Sam smiled, regaining his confidence again. "You know what? You're right babe, we're absolutely going to crush Morocco!"
"It's ti to go rile up the boys!"
After a few more talk, they ended the call.
For the next few days, alongside his teammates, Sam did what he always did before. Train, train, and train again…, non-stop training.
And then, in a flash, it was already 17th.
…
17th January, 2026…
In the Complexe Sportif Mohamd V stadium in Casablanca, on a cool breezy night, Tunisia took on Senegal in the 3rd place match of the tournant.
Just like the Nigerian squad was exhausted after the semifinal ga, the Senegal squad was also extrely exhausted after that grueling match.
It showed in the 3rd place match, giving Tunisia so initial hope.
The first half ca to an end 0-0.
But as soon as Sadio Mane was introduced into the ga, within just 3 minutes, the veteran Senegalese footballer showed his genius, receiving a pass from Idrissa Gueye before curling past the goalkeeper to score.
Sadio Mane's goal in the 66th minute of the ga ended up being the only goal of the ga, the winner.
And just like that, Senegal won, claiming 3rd place in the AFCON tournant.
With 3rd place in the tournant already finalized, all eyes turned and focused on the penultimate ga of the 2025 AFCON tournant, the epic final clash between Morocco and Nigeria.
Both nations would do anything to win!
Hours after Senegal's win, Morocco's captain, Achraf Hakimi was caught by reporters who threw questions at him.
"Captain, Nigeria's attack are billed as the most fearso in the tournant so far. Do you think your team can stop them?"
"Of course!" Hakimi answered confidently without hesitation.
"We've handled and tad much worse attacks, Nigeria's attack is not going to be any different. We'll definitely win!"
The mind gas already started.
That sa night, Hakimi's words were thrown at Troost-Ekong, Nigeria's captain who responded by calling Hakimi's words the words of a drunkard.
Fires were already being shot, all in preparation for the penultimate mont of the tournant.
To the fans, it felt like a long ti but it no longer tarried.
In the blink of an eye, D-day was already here.
It was 18th of January, 2026.
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