Rise of a Football God

(CAF Champions League!)

(Final fixtures: First leg game)

>Enyimba FC 4-1 Wydad AC<

>Date: 4th June, 2023<

…

(Final fixtures: Second leg game)

>Wydad AC 2-1 Enyimba FC<

>Aggregate: 3-5<

>Date: 11th June, 2023<

…

(Winners of the 2022/2023 CAF Champions League Trophy: Enyimba FC!)

Immediately after the final whistle was blown, the sculpters went to work, engraving the name of Enyimba FC on the prestigious trophy.

While this happened backstage, on the pitch, emotion flowed.

Most of the Wydad AC players collapsed on the pitch, exhausted and tired even as others directly burst into tears. Making it to the final of the CAF champions league was an incredible achievement, but they all wanted to win.

After overcoming so many challenges, including Mamelodi Sundowns just to get here and lose to Enyimba FC, it was heartbreaking.

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While most of the players broke down in tears, others lying on the pitch, the captain of the Wydad AC team walked towards his teammates, consoling them while telling them that they needed to acknowledge their supporters.

In the end, they listened, standing up and following their captain as they walked up towards the tens of thousands of supporters that came out for them today. They may have lost, but they still needed to appreciate the fans.

Unlike what they expected though, the fans didn't show any negative reaction, rather loud applause and cheers soon filled this stadium.

The fans were proud of their team's performance today.

Enyimba FC may have won in the end but they didn't make it easy for them. Heck, today, they were the winners since they won 2-1 in their home, that was enough consolation for them to briefly forget the pain that they were going through.

While sorrow and consolation were the emotion prevalent among the Wydad AC side, the Enyimba FC side experienced a whole other emotion, euphoria.

Immediately after the final whistle blew, confirming that his team just won the CAF Champions League, an emotional Coach Yemi Daniel removed his face cap before waving it wildly as he ran into the pitch to celebrate with his players.

Seeing their coach run towards them, the Enyimba FC players in blue rushed towards him before carrying him up as they celebrated him, juggling him in the air.

The emotion among them was full of euphoria and joy.

Their champions league campaign this season just felt unreal. First, they didn't even qualify for the trophy, needing the national association to step in just before they had the rights to play in the tournament.

Despite all the controversy surrounding their qualification, and despite all what the pundits and critics said, somehow, against all odds, they did it, going all the way to win the CAF champions league trophy.

It didn't feel like reality at all, rather, it felt like a perfectly written script filled with ups and downs but with the perfect ending.

All the players and their coach felt on top of the world, including the bench players. Afterall, the trophy win would also be recorded in their CV.

After celebrating with their coach, the players also celebrated their victory in their own unique ways. As for Sam, he made a video call right there in the stadium.

(Outgoing video call to Best Mom…)

As soon as she picked the call, before he could speak, he was drowned in a cacophony of noise.

"SAM…!!!" He heard his name being screamed.

"My son! I can't believe it…, you did it!" His mom was actually in tears!

"I'm so proud of you!"

'Damn mom, when did you become this emotional?' Sam was flabbergasted.

His dad hugged his wife in the background, kissing her on the forehead. "I told you, right? I told you, our son is made for the top!"

"Congratulations son, I can't wait for you to come home finally".

"Don't worry, this time, bills are on me," this man patted his chest confidently. "I will throw a party to celebrate this achievement!"

Mr. Moses laughed loudly. "I can't wait for you to don the blue and red of Barcelona boy, next time, it's the UEFA Champions League!"

"Yes dad!" Sam laughed exuberantly.

"Sam, buy me something from Morocco!" Sophia shouted from the background.

The funniest thing to Sam was that his parents and sister were not the only ones at home who watched the final on their TV.

At this moment, his home was filled with neighbors and family friends. Together, they all watched him play in the final of the CAF champions league.

And when the excitement finally died a bit from his immediate family, they congratulated him.

"Congratulations Sam, you just made the whole of Abraka proud!"

"We can't wait for you to come back!"

"Congratulations Sam".

"Congratulations".

When Sam was finally forced to end the video call, he did it with a big smile on his face. He felt on top of the world.

He looked at heaven, kissing the Enyimba FC badge on his jersey. 'God bless the day I kicked a football again'.

And finally, it was the trophy presentation time.

The Wydad AC players who already mostly recovered from their disappointment stepped on the podium first as the tournament organizers gave them their silver medals, congratulating them on their performance.

After them, the Enyimba FC squad finally climbed the podium led by their coach as they collected their gold medals.

After collecting the medals, they were finally presented with the trophy.

Wrapping his hands around this trophy finally, Austin felt on top of the world. This player felt a rollercoaster of different emotions, mostly euphoric in nature flow through him as he kissed the trophy passionately.

Climbing back into the stadium, as the captain, he was the one supposed to lift the trophy as they celebrated but at the last moment, he changed his mind.

"Come, lift it, you deserve it".

Sam was stunned. "Are you sure?"

"Are you kidding me? Come lift it before I change my mind!"

Sam grinned and placed his hands on the trophy. He kissed it before lifting it and in tandem, the Enyimba FC players jumped, celebrating wildly as celebratory ribbons were shot into the sky.

On this day, Enyimba FC claimed its 3rd CAF Champions League trophy, a moment that would be forever engraved in the history of the club.

It didn't end with the trophy lifting. After most of his teammates left the podium, Sam stayed as he received another trophy, an individual one for giving the most assists in this season's CAF champions league.

Incredibly, he also received another individual trophy, sharing the golden boot award with Wydad AC's striker.

And finally, he received his 3rd individual award trophy of the night, claiming the golden ball award for the best player of the season's CAF champions league.

Sam truly felt on top of the world.

After all the celebrations, as the squad went to the airport, intent on returning to Nigeria that night to celebrate with their excited fans, Sam received a flurry of notifications from his system.

He grinned. 'Finally!'