Rise of a Football God

July 9th already had a headline, England knocking Germany out of the FIFA World Cup at the Round of 16 stage.

But there was still another clash scheduled for July 9th.

[FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16]

[Match 4: Nigeria vs Spain]

[Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City]

[Date: July 9th, 2026]

[Kick-off: 20:00 local time]

[Referee: Jesus Valenzuela (Venezuela)]

If the atmosphere in Los Angeles was a pressure cooker for the epic clash between England and Germany, this time around, the atmosphere was pretty calm and upbeat.

This was because unlike the earlier game played in USA, there was a clear favorite for the 2nd Round of 16 game of July 9th.

Yes, Nigeria, the reigning AFCON champions had outperformed expectations this tournament, charging imperiously all the way from the group stage to the Round of 16 stage of the FIFA World Cup.

But despite all that, the matchup tonight just didn't favor them.

Their opponents were Spain, the untouchable Spain.

Fans would have loved to see more of the electric Samuel Moses shine in this stage of the FIFA World Cup, but they knew that he already did more than enough.

He already did enough to secure his Ballon d'Or trophy.

Tonight, FC Barcelona fans would be the biggest winners because their nation would win, while their star forward would essentially secure the ballon d'Or trophy by simply playing the game. It was a win-win situation to them.

Nigeria started in a 4-2-3-1 with Stanley Nwabali in goal, while ahead of him was the defensive quadruple of Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, and Zaidu Sanusi.

In midfield was the duo of Frank Onyeka and Wilfrid Ndidi, while the creative players upfront were Samuel Chukwueze in right wing, Ademola Lookman on the left, and Samuel Moses as the central attacking midfielder.

Victor Osimhen led the line as the striker.

For Spain, they started in their regular 4-3-3, with Unai Simon in goal, while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of Dani Carvajal, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde.

In midfield was the dynamic trio of Rodri, Pedri, and Fabian Ruiz, while in attack was Lamine Yamal in right wing, Nico Williams in left wing, and Mikel Oyarzabal leading the line as the striker.

The Estadio Azteca was a cauldron of sound, awash with color and electricity.

FWEEE!

The game started.

And like expected, the Spaniards, crisp and clinical, started the game with measured dominance.

Their tiki-taka was in full swing, slicing possession through Nigeria's midfield like butter.

Against other teams, Nigeria showed how much they've improved under Eric Chelle, but Spain showed them levels. They couldn't bring out their best against this Spanish side, not against Luis de la Fuente's Spain.

Sam, the Nigerian prodigy wearing the iconic No. 10 jersey for the World Cup looked like a marked man.

From the first minute, Rodri shadowed Sam.

To be shadowed by a Ballon d'Or winning midfielder was the highest of honors, and that was the honor that Sam received on the night.

Not just Rodri, Fabian Ruiz doubled up on Sam at times, and even Laporte stepped into midfield to cut off his angles.

Like Ukraine, Spain had clearly studied him.

But the 20-year old was calm.

By now, Sam was used to this feeling. Besides, the special treatment he received in the Ukraine game in the Round of 32 prepared him for what was to follow in the knockout stage of the World Cup.

His eyes scanned the pitch, his breathing slow, his calma glowing in moments of fire.

Outside, he was calm, but inside…

'Win!' 'Win!' 'Win!'

But then, Spain shattered his dreams.

In the 38th minute of the game, Spain's dominance finally told when Pedri split Nigeria's lines with a sharp through all to Oyarzabal, who calmly rolled the ball under Nwabali for the opener.

1-0 Spain.

The Super Eagles tried to rally, but their forays forward were fragmented by a stalwart Spainish midfield and a literal wall in defense.

Sam barely saw the wall without being smothered by three white shirts.

Halftime whistle came and Nigeria were down. Spain were cruising.

It was a miracle that they were behind by just 1 at this point.

Some called it delusion, but Nigerians called it belief, and it was what kept Nigeria going in this game.

The second half saw an even hungrier Nigeria.

Ndidi and Onyeka began biting into tackles. Lookman tracked back tirelessly. Chukueze caused Balde problems, they did everything just to change the tide of the game but Spain still held the ball.

Minute after minute, pass after pass, they dominated.

In the 85th minute, Sam tried to break free, but he was fouled just as he turned past Gavi who came in for Fabian Ruiz at some point.

They were teammates for club, friends even, but tonight, they were enemies.

Sam didn't stay down after the initial foul though.

He winced, got up, and moved again… and again. Yet, no result.

The fourth official raised the board. +6 minutes.

The desperation among the Super Eagles was clear now.

But then, in the 94th minute…

GOAL!

Out of nowhere!

Frank Onyeka surged through midfield with raw determination. He laid it wide to Aina, who whipped in a desperate cross.

Osimhen jumped, but missed it.

But behind him… lurked Sam. Calm. Composed. Magical.

He let the ball bounce once, then lashed a left-footed volley through traffic with the accuracy of a surgeon.

BAM!

It hit the underside of the bar, and ricocheted into the net.

KABOOM!

"ZINEDINE SAM…!!!"

"ZINEDINE SAM…!!!"

"ZINEDINE SAM…!!!" The commentator lost his mind.

The crowd ROARED.

1-1. The kid from Abraka had done it again.

Extra time beckoned.

Extra time came and Spain tried to reassert dominance. They brought on fresh legs. Ferran Torres. Dani Olmo.

But Sam? He looked reborn.

Even in additional time, his core trait that his Fulham coach once praised shone through, his stamina.

He was tireless. Ominipresent. Tackling. Passing. Pressing. Lifting the nation on his back.

And then, in the 112th minute…

GOAL!!!

The moment remained frozen in time.

It was a rare Nigeria attack as Spain dominated throughout. It came against the run of play.

Lookman broke down the left, cut in, and floated a cross. It seemed too high.

Until Sam BACKPEDALLED into the box, took flight, and unleashed a thunderous bicycle kick past Unai Simon.

KABOOM!

The stadium erupted a second time for Nigeria.

2-1 Nigeria.

Sam collapsed on the turf, arms outstretched as his teammates swarmed him.

The boy from Abraka, Nigeria was now the Star of the World Cup.

"MY GOD!!!" The commentator raved. "Who wrote this script?!"

"Who can describe it?"

"Not even GEORGE R.R MARTIN!"

FWEEE!

The game restarted, and Spain attacked frantically.

Yamal hit the post. Oyarzabal's header was saved by Nwabali. They did everything, but Nigeria held firm.

The final whistle blew. Spain out. Nigeria through.

The stadium erupted as Nigerian fans made their voice heard.

"Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"

The chants filled the stadium.

Sam won the man of the match award for one of the craziest clutch performances of the tournament so far.

Breathless at the end of the game, he faced the media.

He grinned. "They tried to stop me. They kicked, pushed, chased. But I'm from Nigeria. I don't break… I shine".

Eric Chelle felt on top of the world.

"We beat one of the best teams in the world. Sam is a gift! But it was the team that bled for this win".

Luis de la Fuente was speechless in front of the media.

"I-I'm… I'm just bamboozled". He shook his head.

"We had control, but football is not just control. Nigeria had magic. They had Samuel Moses".