The final whistle of the match between Nigeria and Zimbabwe, ending in a 1-1 draw, reverberates like an emotional punch. After a stellar 2-0 victory in Rwanda, the momentum was clearly in our favor. Expectations were high, yet what we witnessed left us feeling deflated and profoundly disappointed.

For many Nigerians, especially those who grew up with football woven into the fabric of our identity, such moments sting deeply. I remember, as a teenager, when the Green Eagles lost a match; it felt as though the world had shifted. The loss would linger for days, sometimes weeks, affecting my appetite and robbing me of sleep. This was not simply about a game; it was a reflection of our pride, our identity, and our unwavering belief in our team’s potential. So, I understand the frustration felt by fans across the nation.

What happened on that day is a poignant reminder that football, at its core, is unpredictable. Zimbabwe, though not considered a powerhouse in African or global football, proved that no opponent can ever be taken lightly. The equalizer came at the most agonizing of times, with only moments left on the clock. It is the cruelest of blows—the kind of moment that will haunt you, keeping you up at night, asking yourself why we didn’t maintain the pressure, why we allowed ourselves to be complacent.

But in moments like this, we must keep our heads held high. Disappointment is inevitable in sports, but it is a part of the journey. We need to remember that this is only one match in a long campaign. Yes, Zimbabwe may not be ranked as highly as some other teams, but they were driven by the same fierce desire to succeed as we are. This draw serves as a stark reminder that there are no “small” teams anymore—every nation has pride, every team has heart, and every match counts.

The reality of our situation is this: we cannot afford to take any game for granted. The road ahead remains uncertain, but our focus must remain clear—win the games that are ours to win, and hope that others falter along the way. The lesson here is simple: we must elevate our game and stay on course. We cannot allow moments of weakness to define us.

Paul Okoku

Osimhen, as always, did his part, delivering the goal that kept us in the hunt. His dedication is a testament to the fighting spirit we need to carry forward. But it’s not just about individual brilliance; it’s about collective resilience and determination. Football is as much about mental toughness as it is about skill on the ball, and this match serves as a harsh reminder that every team—no matter the ranking—will come at us with everything they have.

So, while we nurse the wounds of today’s heartbreak, we must press on. Our journey is far from over, and there are many more opportunities ahead. Let’s hope for the best and remember: the only way forward is to keep pushing, to never let our guard down, and to always believe that victory is just one more match away.

*Paul Lucky Okoku, former Super Eagles player and 1984 AFCON silver medalist wrote this piece from USA

Andres Iniesta has announced his retirement from professional football but goes out as a true legend of the game

Andres Iniesta announcing his retirement has prompted an outpouring of love for a player who brought so much joy. His status in Spain is easy to explain but his admirers extend worldwide, such was his ability to bewitch with the ball.

As a journalist, the job often involves asking players and coaches about those more famous than themselves. It occasionally evokes a grimace. Others will have asked about Lionel Messi before. The guard can go up. With Iniesta, it was never like that.

Mention of his name, whether beside pitches or at press conferences, usually prompted a smile. People could not resist talking about him warmly. That the question had even been asked was almost like being welcomed into a fan club. So, you get it too.

Albert Capellas coached Iniesta as a young player, although he would use the word coached loosely. Even then, he understood the dynamic. “I trained Iniesta for several years and I always say that Iniesta came into this world to show us how to play football.”

Capellas’ view of the true greats was simple. “You do not correct them. They show you the way.” Pep Guardiola is rightly credited with transforming Barcelona, fashioning arguably the greatest side of them all, but it was possible, in part, because of Iniesta.

Together with Xavi Hernandez, they reshaped the game, putting opponents on what Sir Alex Ferguson would call the carousel. Twenty years ago, midfields were for the muscular. Iniesta and Xavi changed that. Possession became king. Mind over muscle.

Since then, he has won every trophy there is to be won, a champion of Europe and the world with Spain, as well as those four Champions League wins with Barcelona. Conqueror of La Liga on nine occasions, there were even a few more gongs in Japan.

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Not bad for the boy from Albacete who has cried as a 12-year-old boy as he struggled to adjust to life at La Masia, Barcelona’s academy. He was a reluctant hero, but a hero nonetheless – scorer of that goal in extra-time that clinched the World Cup for Spain.

Andres Iniesta struggled following the death of his friend Dani Jarque
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Iniesta paid tribute to his friend Dani Jarque after scoring in the World Cup final
He was a fitting scorer. His old Barcelona colleague Juan Roman Riquelme, a maestro himself, rated Iniesta as the player who understood football like no other, always choosing the right moment to move forward or back, speed it up or slow it down.

Shooting, as he did that day in South Africa, is a skill that can be learned, argued Riquelme. The awareness that Iniesta possessed was something else. “The only thing that cannot be taught or bought. That is something that you are born with.”

A conversation with Robert Moreno comes to mind. He was Luis Enrique’s assistant for three years at Barcelona, during which time Iniesta won his final Champions League. As with Capellas, he saw himself as guided by the great man rather than there to instruct.

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“Sometimes your job is to give lots of information. But at the top level, you are not there to teach them everything. You are there to put them together to make the most of the team that you have. Sometimes that means you need to shut up and let them play.”

“This is the big difference with these players. Lesser players need your help. These players let you know that you are there because they need someone to sit on the bench and pick the team.” Even comprehending their decision-making process is difficult.

“What the best players in the world do is impossible to explain. Ask Xavi or Andres Iniesta why they have done something and they do not know. But you did it? ‘Yes,’ they say, ‘but I do not know why. I was on the pitch, this felt like the best solution so I did it.'”

Source: Sky Sport

Less than two months after surrendering the top spot in the continental ranking, Quadri Aruna has reclaimed his place after leaping to 17th place in Week 22 of the 2024 ITTF Ranking released on Tuesday, May 28 by the world table tennis ruling body.

However, Egypt’s Omar Assar slipped to 22 in the world rating after occupying the top spot in Africa in the last two months following his triumph at the last African Games in Ghana.

Aruna, who recently reclaimed the ITTF Africa Cup in Rwanda this month, rose by two steps up the ranking ladder to become the highest rated African in the world.

Assar’s drop in the world ranking was due to the expiration of the quarterfinal points he garnered at the Durban 2023 World Championships in South Africa, and this automatically made him lose some points that prompted his fall in the ranking.

While others are dropping from the pecking order of ranking, Aruna’s points remain static, and the freefall of others prompted his rise in the world ranking.

Africa’s biggest movers in May, Mohamed El-Beiali, who became the third-best-ranked player in the continent after finishing as runner-up at the 2024 ITTF Africa Cup after a 4-0 loss to Aruna in Kigali, dropped to 49th in the world rating.

Despite dropping by a step, Egypt’s Dina Meshref held on to the top echelon of Africa as the 24th best player in the world.

Meshref’s compatriot, Hana Goda, remained static as the best rated African in the world, ranked 31st in the world.

Following the conclusion of all continental quotas for the Olympic Games, players are now eager to pick up their tickets to Paris through the world ranking, which will be in force on June 11 as ITTF concludes the list of participants at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.