Rabat, Morocco – Dis na one classic football story wey dem go tell pikin wey dem wan grow for football. Morocco dey vex say dem lose WAFCON final to Nigeria, and dem dey point finger at referee and VAR decision wey no go fit allow dem celebrate wetin suppose be sweet victory.
For 25 minutes of di match, Morocco dey shine like diamond as dem take 2-0 lead. But, as dem say ‘all that glitters na no be gold’, di Super Falcons come back strong like say dem don drink plenty palm wine and dem wan shuffle dance. First, junt dem score for 62nd minute with penalty from Esther Okoronkwo for handball wey Nouhaila Benzina do. But di wahala no end there o!
Morocco wey dey jump for joy, suddenly see referees change mind for dia own penalty after Oluwatosin Demehin arm been touch ball. Di same VAR wey gree Nigeria penalty come turn around say Morocco no go fit secure dia own. Hmm, no be small gbege! Jorge Vilda, di Morocco coach, no fit hide him belleful vex after di match. Him abeg di referee explain wetin happen, but you know how referee matter be—dem go just look you like say you no talk sense.
‘We can’t understand di decision made by di referee,’ he talk. ‘Di images wey we see and di one wey dem show di referee no be di same. We dey sure say na penalty.’ Di match dey go anywhere but now where di referee don spoil dia vibe. Dis one wey dem dey call psychological impact fit make dem lose focus.
Fast forward to di end of di match, Nigeria don don collect dem 10th WAFCON title—na record wey dem dey follow like say na album wey dem wan complete. Jennifer Echegini come be di star of di show as she score last minute goal wey make di Super Falcons gree dance like say dem win lottery. E na serious comeback wey show say, you no fit count dem out.
For Vilda end, e talk say, ‘We should have managed di second half better, but VAR spoil as we no fit predict wetin go happen.’ Di soldiers from Morocco don play well but di time wey dem go fit get di trophy don pass dem by. Dem dey regret say dis na dia best chance to shine but di football gods say ‘no way’ dis time.
Verdict be say di Super Falcons don show dem power, and di joy wey dem bring back home fit make all Nigeria dance for street. Na so dem take carry di cup back to Naija, and we dey wait wetin dem go do after dis sweet victory. Na so football dey shine, sometimes e dey sweet, sometimes e dey sour. But one tins wey sure, e go continue to dey lead us smile.
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