The dairy game||The Day Nigeria Faced Zimbabwe in the God'swill Akpabio international stadium in uyo

I don’t even know how I wake up so early that morning, maybe because my heart was restless all night thinking about the match. The window blinds was open halfway and the sunlight kind of slip through, touching my face in a way that made me smile without reason. Breakfast I barely touched because my stomach was already full with excitement.

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The whole city of Uyo felt different. I swear even the wind carry voices shouting “Up Super Eagles” though maybe it just my head imagining. On the road side, traders shouting, some selling roasted corn, some with small flags of green and white, one boy even painted his chest with “Nigeria 4 life.” People walked fast, some slow, everybody moving in one direction. Domus gloriae—I remember saying that word to myself when the stadium appeared in distance, looking huge and almost shining like a palace.

Inside, ah! I can’t explain. Colors everywhere, drums beating loud, the ground almost shaking like thunder. I sit down but truth is I never really sit because the noise and joy kept me standing half the time. My seat neighbors were strangers yet they feel like family that moment, we shouted together, laughed, shared groundnut like we know each other for years.

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When the match start, every pass of the ball made my chest rise and fall. Nigeria played with speed, sharp like knife, Zimbabwe also strong but the crowd gave our boys extra wings. The first goal—how do I even put it—was pure magic. Victor Osimhen ran like lightning, chest-controlled the ball that fell from high sky, and then he shoot with his right foot so clean it bend and landed top corner of the net. Goalkeeper just stretch but couldn’t touch. Boom! Goal! The whole place scatter. People hugging strangers, drinks flying up, drums doubled louder. I lost my voice instantly, shouting Gloria Nigeria! without even thinking.

Second goal was Kelechi Iheanacho, and that one was like painting. Around 54th minute, he received the ball outside the box, didn’t wait, one soft control and then his left foot curled it perfect, the ball kissed the post before sliding inside. The sound of the net shaking echoed like music. I jump high that time, soda almost poured on my shirt but I don’t care. That one was ars perfecta, perfect art, no mistake.

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But football always full of twist. Zimbabwe wake up and fight back. In 67th minute, corner kick fly inside, one tall player headed it down and the ball beat our keeper. For one breath the whole stadium fell quiet, like all drums stopped at once. My chest felt small. But then somebody behind me start shouting “Super Eagles!” and another picked it, and quickly all the noise returned louder than before.

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The sweetest came last. 82nd minute, Samuel Chukwueze carried the ball on right side, legs moving fast like dancing fire. One defender gone, second defender gone, he cut inside and before I even blinked he shoot with his left. The ball move fast, unstoppable, boom inside net. People scream, some cry, I almost cry too but it was happy tears. Victoria splendida, splendid victory.

Final whistle blow, Nigeria 3 – 1 Zimbabwe. I stood there, chest rising heavy, throat dry, hands red from clapping. Lights of phones everywhere, people dancing, even the police smiled. Walking home later the road was alive, fireworks in sky, children singing, everybody part of one family under same joy.

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That day not just a match for me. It became a memory stamped deep, something to tell again years later. A day when the stadium turned into heart of Nigeria, beating loud, beating strong. Carpe diem—yes, I seized it.