Nigeria Vs Ghana: A Night Of Hope, Disarray And Disappointment.

At the Moshood Abiola stadium, on tuesday, there were a lot of negatives and positives. The end scenes tell how what started beautifully could crumble in a big, infectious ball of uncontrolled emotions: the shameful attack on infrastructures and the supporters of Ghana's black stars who grinded a 1-1 aggregate win over the super eagles all thanks to the away goal rule.

But beyond the painful loss and the grotesque images, there was the realisation that the beautiful Moshood Abiola stadium could be put to use, that tingling feeling that something could actually work and that the world will see reels of a first class stadium right here in Nigeria.

Supremely, there was this upgraded believe that Nigeria could actually be one nation and that our divisions may be exaggerated by the few cynics within us and by the unfortunate rhetorics of some leaders.

Everyone went into that stadium with a single identity: Nigerian. When Osimhen burst through the Ghana defence and powered a shot past the keeper and the stadium erupted with the chants of his name, there was a strange singularity of the voices.

There wasn't much identity on any one, no Muslim no Christian, no Northerner no southerner, no rich and poor, there was only passion for a nation we all thought we had forgotten.

I drank beer amongst Muslims and no one gave me a caustic glare because, somehow, everyone left their prejudices at home, everyone left their opinions and concerns at home.

We can be one country again if we get it right in this very decisive Presidential elections we are awaiting, with the right person in power that atmosphere at the Moshood Abiola stadium can be replicated across Nigeria (excluding, of course, the attack by some fans)

The match was largely what we all hope for across Nigeria, the unity and the passion, the beauty and the infrastructure, the coordination and the love and these are not looking too expensive anymore or too far to get or too steep. It's in sight actually if one is positive enough.

Until the magic and energy of the moment crumbled after the final whistle, after the sea of waving Nigerian flags dissolved to complaints, after the chants of Osimhen's name, I fought back tears all through.

Julius Bokoru is a critic, writer and social commentator. He is the Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. He resides in Abuja.