Nigeria at 66: Nigeria Soccer Federation USA (NSFUSA) — When Nigeria Comes to America, Across The Atlantic Home Follows The Football

𝐁𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐮

From yesteryear Nigerian stars and famous football families to tired legs, lifelong friendships and a new generation chasing opportunity, the 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐒𝐀 (𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐒𝐀) turns the American pitch into a gathering place for memory, friendship and heritage — where football carries a little piece of Nigeria across the Atlantic.

Nigeria marked its 𝟔𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 on 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.

On 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏, 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟎, the green and white flag rose over an independent nation. Sixty-six years later, thousands of miles from home, Nigerians are gathering again around another symbol that has followed our people almost everywhere we have gone.

A football.

This time, the destination is 𝐋𝐚𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐬, 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐚, where the 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐒𝐀 (𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐒𝐀) is bringing together players, families, friends and generations of Nigerians through football. NSFUSA describes its mission as “Uniting Communities Through Football,” connecting talent, culture and opportunity through tournaments, youth development and community engagement.

To somebody watching from Lagos, Abuja, Benin, Warri, Enugu or Port Harcourt, it might look like another football tournament in America.

It is much more than that.

Sometimes a country is a place on a map.

Sometimes it is a people.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐒𝐄𝐄

There is another Nigerian football story in America.

It has unfolded quietly over the years through football fields, hotels, banquet halls, reunions, family gatherings and countless journeys across this enormous country.

Today, NSFUSA reports representation from more than 𝟐𝟎 𝐔.𝐒. 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 and thousands of attendees annually.

Those numbers are impressive.

But those of us who lived portions of this history remember something numbers cannot capture.

We remember the faces.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐘𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑’𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐘

Back in the day, these Nigerian football gatherings in America became something of a breeding ground for reunions of former players.

You never quite knew who would show up.

There was 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐝𝐢𝐲𝐞.

𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐢 𝐀𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞.

The late 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐬𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐧.

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐎𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐛𝐞.

𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐢𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐚.

And myself, 𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐮.

𝐁𝐞𝐧 𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐚

𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝 𝐀𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐞.

𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐔𝐰𝐞.

𝐃𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧.

𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐤𝐚 𝐄𝐳𝐞𝐮𝐠𝐨.

𝐀𝐥𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐀𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐧.

𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐟𝐞.

There were the 𝐎𝐥𝐮𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐒𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐧 and 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐢.

The 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 — 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 and 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧 (𝐀𝐳𝐮𝐤𝐚).

There were 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 and 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐨, another pair of brothers who would make the journey from the Boston area.

And there were 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐮, 𝐓𝐚𝐣𝐮 and 𝐇𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐮 — another football family connection that added to the reunion atmosphere.

In fact, if you wanted to see brothers back in those days, forget the family reunion.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Some people even crossed the Atlantic from Europe to join the gathering.

That was part of its beauty.

Football had scattered us around the world.

𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐓𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐀𝐘

I know that feeling personally.

During my playing days in the tournament, I represented 𝐀𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚.

And when Atlanta hosted, we did not merely provide Southern hospitality.

𝐖𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭.

That remains one of those memories that makes the old boys straighten their shoulders a little when the story is being told.

Players such as 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐠𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐦, 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚, 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐈𝐭𝐨𝐡𝐚𝐧, 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐎𝐠𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐚, 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐚, 𝐈𝐛𝐞𝐳𝐢𝐦 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐞, 𝐑𝐮𝐟𝐮𝐬 𝐔𝐰𝐚𝐣𝐞, 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐍𝐬𝐮𝐤, 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐡𝐮, 𝐉𝐨𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐳𝐢𝐞, and 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐠𝐛𝐞 were part of our Atlanta football community.

Other former players were scattered around different American cities, and when tournament time arrived, the telephone calls began.

Who was coming?

Who was playing?

Who had gained weight?

Who still believed he was fast?

Most importantly:

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦?

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃. 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃.

Those games could become serious.

Very serious.

Old internationals do not always understand the meaning of “friendly match.”

The whistle blows and something happens to the memory.

Suddenly, you are 25 again.

You see the opening.

The brain says:

𝐆𝐨!

The legs respond:

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?

You attempt the run anyway.

For a few seconds, somebody produces an old touch, an intelligent pass or one beautiful movement, and everyone watching remembers:

Ah! This man could play football.

Then comes the following morning.

That is when the knees publish their own match report.

Today, some of us are papas.

Some are grandpapas.

Some of the men who shared those fields and memories are sadly no longer with us.

The runs have become shorter.

The recovery has become longer.

And perhaps the stories have become better with every retelling.

But something survived.

𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬.

𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩.

NSFUSA has even opened registration for an 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝟓𝟎 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 in Las Vegas, designed for players aged 50 and above to compete and reconnect.

So perhaps there is still hope for some of us.

Although at this stage, NSFUSA may eventually need two more categories:

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝟔𝟎 — 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐤, 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐑𝐮𝐧.

No offside.

Unlimited substitutions.

And preferably a physiotherapist stationed behind each goal.

Then comes:

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝟕𝟎 — 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐔𝐩.

At that age, forget extra time. Give everybody a medal and let us proceed directly to the banquet.

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃

And that brings me to something outsiders may not understand.

The tournament does not simply end when the final whistle blows.

On the night of the final, football boots give way to polished shoes.

Jerseys disappear beneath suits and beautiful Nigerian cultural attire.

Everybody wants to show up looking good.

And, yes, smelling good too.

The participating teams and communities gather in a banquet hall. In some of the gatherings I remember, there could be representatives from 20 or even 25 places.

Then football becomes fellowship.

There is dinner.

There is music.

There is a DJ.

There is dancing, laughter, storytelling and socializing.

Awards are presented. The champions are celebrated. Individuals are recognized. And over the years, 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐞 recognition has also formed part of that tradition.

Men who spent the afternoon chasing one another around a football field are suddenly dressed impeccably, embracing, laughing and taking photographs together.

That is the beauty of it.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞.

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘

That is why what NSFUSA is doing with 𝐋𝐚𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 deserves attention.

The organization calls this year’s gathering its “most ambitious NSFUSA tournament to date,” combining elite competition, international scouting and professional-development opportunities. The primary tournament page lists three official categories: the 𝐔𝟏𝟔–𝐔𝟏𝟗 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝟒𝟎 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 and 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭; NSFUSA also has a dedicated Over-50 registration program.

More importantly, this is no longer only about reunion.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆

NSFUSA says 𝐋𝐚𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 will feature scouting participation from 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐂 and 𝐅𝐂 𝐃𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐬, giving elite youth and Open Division players opportunities for professional evaluation and potential development pathways.

Think about that evolution.

Once, many of us came primarily to reconnect.

Now a Nigerian youngster can arrive hoping to be discovered.

𝐘𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫.

𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲’𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞.

𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰’𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.

That is what healthy tradition should do.

It remembers yesterday without living in yesterday.

It strengthens today.

Then it opens a door for tomorrow.

𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍 𝟗𝟎 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐓𝐄𝐒

There is another reason these gatherings matter.

Children born in America get to encounter something of their parents’ Nigeria.

They hear the accents.

They taste the food.

They meet people their parents have been talking about for years.

They discover that the man Dad is joking with at breakfast once represented Nigeria.

They watch old teammates embrace.

They watch old opponents laugh together.

And somewhere between the football field and the banquet hall, 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧.

That is diaspora.

You leave home.

You build another life.

You raise children.

Years pass.

But certain things refuse to leave you.

A language.

A meal.

A song.

An old teammate.

A football.

𝐋𝐀𝐒 𝐕𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐒 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐒 𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀

For 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, NSFUSA selected the 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐠 𝐙𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 in Las Vegas as its competition venue, with the 𝐑𝐢𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 & 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐨 as host hotel. Its official tournament page says the full event schedule and match fixtures will be announced separately.

But the significance extends beyond fixtures.

Nigeria may be thousands of miles away.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 — 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫.

𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒

None of this happens because somebody simply rolls a ball onto a field.

People work.

People plan.

People sacrifice.

There are registrations, telephone calls, venues, hotels, referees, schedules, transportation and hundreds of details spectators will never know existed.

𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐒

None of this happens because somebody simply rolls a ball onto a field.

People work.

People plan.

People sacrifice.

There are registrations, telephone calls, venues, hotels, referees, schedules, transportation and hundreds of details spectators will never know existed.

According to the 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐒𝐅𝐔𝐒𝐀 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞, its current leadership is listed as 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐆. 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞, President; 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐈𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐮, Vice President; 𝐀𝐲𝐨𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐄𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐳𝐞𝐫, Secretary General; 𝐍𝐢𝐦𝐢 𝐊𝐞𝐦𝐮𝐞𝐥, Public Relations Officer; 𝐓𝐚𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐤 𝐆𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐥, Head Official; 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐣𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐞, Assistant Secretary General; 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐣𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐝𝐞, Media Director; 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐠𝐨𝐫, Match Commissioner; 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐤𝐚 𝐔𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚, Deputy Match Commissioner; and 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐎𝐤𝐞𝐨𝐰𝐨, Financial Secretary.

And beyond the names and titles currently listed on the organization’s website are the volunteers, organizers, team officials, supporters and those who contributed during earlier periods.

To 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐆. 𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞, the leadership team identified by NSFUSA, and everyone carrying the load for 𝐋𝐚𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔:

𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬.

Bringing Nigerians together is not easy.

Bringing Nigerians together repeatedly is commitment.

Keeping Nigerians together long enough to finish a football tournament — and then getting everybody dressed and into the same banquet hall afterward?

That may qualify as a miracle.

Yet year after year, people keep doing the work.

𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄: 𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐀 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄

Nigeria’s Independence story is not being written only inside Nigeria.

It is being written wherever Nigerians have carried Nigeria with them.

This week, one part of that story is being written in 𝐋𝐚𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐬.

The youngsters will carry their dreams.

The Open players will carry their ambitions.

The veterans will carry their memories.

And some of us older boys?

We will carry the ice packs.

The grandpapas may carry two.

Eventually, the matches will finish.

The trophies will be presented.

Then evening comes.

The boots come off.

The suits and cultural attire come out.

The food is served.

The music begins.

Old teammates find one another again.

And for a few hours, thousands of miles from Nigeria, nobody needs directions home.

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦.

Football gave many of us different journeys. Life eventually sent us in different directions.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩.

Happy 𝟔𝟔𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲, Nigeria.

And to the NSFUSA family in Las Vegas:

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲. 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡. 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫. 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭.

Because the final whistle may end the tournament.

𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩.

𝐏𝐚𝐮𝐥 𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐎𝐤𝐨𝐤𝐮

FIFA Legend | Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain | Former Super Eagles International | AFCON Silver Medalist | Football Historian | Football Analyst | Investigative Football Writer | Journalist-at-Large | Founder & CEO, Greater Tomorrow Children’s Fund (GTCF)

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