The E-mail came, I hardly ever use that particularly box, it’s mine anyways. The content however made me curious upon sighting the address of the sender. It was from the media department of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). They were inviting me to Morocco to witness the CAF Awards 2022. They have arranged my VISA and ticket, the mail read.
This was just days before the big event, the CAF Awards 2022. I had barely 3 days to prepare for the trip. I quickly had to put a call to every member of my family. I had to make arrangements for my kids writing exams at school, I had to make sure to clear my desk at the office and ofcourse, send messages to my close pals. The flight was leaving on the morning of the awards, I practically couldn’t sleep all through the night, packing, unpacking and watching the clock. I even had to set the alarm. You sleep off, you miss out. I welcome you all to this interesting journey to Morocco.
The Departure
I got into the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at midnight. Check in was to start at 2.30am, smooth. Departure was 6.45am, timely. A tap on my shoulder brought me back from my half asleep, half awake state at the private lounge arranged for us. “Your flight is waiting for you sir”, the sonorous voice felt like a chill on my body. I looked up and it was one of the most beautiful creatures I ever met. Ok, let us not lose focus. I picked up my hand luggage, joined the queue (well not actually ) because we were being given a first class privilege. I sat down at my business class seat and low and behold, sitting right beside me was the reigning African Women Footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala of FC Barcelona. What was she doing beside me? Isn’t she supposed to be at the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco sweating it out for Nigeria already? Wait!
WAFCON 2022
The biggest football competition for the women in Africa, The African Cup of Nations had kicked off in Rabat and Casablanca in early July. Nigeria were the defending champions having won the last championship in Ghana, in 2018. The 2020 edition suffered cancellation due to the Corona Virus pandemic. This was even more a special edition due to the fact that the competition was to serve as the qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Australia/New Zealand 2023. There was just so much at stake. Nigeria had been drawn in the same group alongside South Africa, Burundi and Botswana. Our biggest headache was to come from South Africa and that was exactly as it panned out. The Banyana Banyana of South Africa not only defeated the Super Falcons of Nigeria in their opening group match, Nigeria also had to suffer another blow in losing her star striker, Asisat Oshoala to a knee injury in the match. The league champion of Spain player was immediately ruled out of the tournament. A massive blow to Nigeria. Barcelona FC of Spain, where she plies her trade, asked her to return immediately to Spain for further checks on the injury. It was going to be a big set back of epic proportions to the ambitions of the Nigeria Women National team. Sadly, injuries are a part of the game.
Arrival in Morocco
Now you know why Asisat Oshoala was now sitting beside me in the aeroplane instead of being with the Nigeria team in Morocco already. She is out of the tournament proper but she is now going for the CAF Awards 2022. Unlike me, she is attending as a nominated awardee. She had been named as one out of the 3 shortlisted players for the African Footballer of the Year, women category.
We landed after four hours in Casablanca and already waiting for us, were representatives of CAF, to usher us through the immigration procedures, pick our baggage and head to Rabat, the city were the event was holding. Here comes the shocker. World renowned singer and composer, David Adeleke, known worldwide as Davido had been on the flight and seated right in front of me all along. The OBO crooner had disguised with a hooded Nigerian track suit and a face mask all along the journey from the point of departure from Nigeria to arrival in Morocco. Well, do I blame him? No. He would have caused a stir right from the airport to the flight and the point to which we disembarked. Now we are going to have a ball from Casablanca to Rabat. Asisat Oshoala to my right, Davido to my left.
The Award Night
Well, I am running out of space, I wouldn’t want to extend this write up to the next edition because it still wouldn’t be enough. Where would we start from? My discussion with Davido about his uncle’s feat as the Governor elect in Osun state or his exploits in the music world? Let us keep it strictly on the sports scene for now. Asisat Oshoala earned the popular vote and thus became the new African Woman Footballer of the year, for the 5th time. That’s a 5-star General in there. She dedicated the award to the Super Falcons for being able to hold their own against the Atlas Ladies of Morocco despite playing 9 against 11 for the greater part of the game because of two red cards issued to two members of the team during the course of the game. The Nigerians eventually lost on penalties to Morocco after full time and regulation time ended 1-1. The next game was however an anti climax as the same Falcons lost 0-1 to the ladies from Zambia in the 3rd place game. Apart from picking a World Cup slot by virtue of qualifying for the semi-finals, the only other compensation from Morocco, was the woman player of the year award won by Asisat Oshoala. It was otherwise a tournament to forget for Nigeria.
See Morocco, See Spain
I ran into Blessing, a Nigerian lady, who had been living in Morocco for 6 years. She told me about living in Morocco as a Nigerian and as a foreigner. The security situation and the business environment. From the lot, the one that caught my attention, was “See Morocco, See Spain”.
“Four of my friends just crossed from here into Spain last week. Infact, one of them had a friend who had been living here for four years and she successfully crossed a month ago. She was the one who influenced their decision to cross. She gave them some tips and they just felt it was time. The next thing we saw was their messages from Spain”, she disclosed with a smile. I asked if she was aware of the risk and she reminded me that she has been here for 6 years, she ofcourse would have crossed if not that she was scared of the process. “Since I got here, I have lost many friends. Some who crossed successfully, others who died in the process. The ones who turned up dead are more than the crossers. I am ok with my business here”, she ended the discussion. Now I have broken my own rule, I promised to stick to sports but I couldn’t keep it. Please find a space in your hearts to forgive me.
From Morocco to United Kingdom
As you are reading this piece, yours truly is already in the United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, this experience you are reading was typed all through the three hour flight from Casablanca to London. I am here to cover the XXII Commonwealth Games, Birmingham 2022. I seize the opportunity to congratulate Ese Brume, for winning the Silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon USA and the biggest of all, Oluwatobiloba Amazon Amusan for not only winning the gold medal in the 100m hurdles, she also broke the world record twice in one night on her way to achieving the epic feat. I am here waiting to celebrate more Nigerian athletes as they take on the rest of the world at the ongoing Commonwealth of Nations Games.
Best of luck Nigeria.
