Mama, Papa, your Leon is going to World Cup

Leon Balogun with Parents.

The story is no longer how the match was played; the gist now is what attended Nigeria’s victory over Zambia and the three-time African champions’ consequent qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

African qualifiers for the 2018 mundial end next month, but well ahead of that, the Super Eagles on Saturday defeated the Chipolopolo to become the first African country out of the total five that will secure a place in the Russia World Cup.

And so how did the Nigerian players celebrate the victory? Obviously they were so overjoyed that they could not contain it. They decided to share the moments with the world.

Defender Leon Balogun who wept after Nigeria’s qualification on Saturday, took to his Twitter handle, @LeonBalogun to tweet: “Mama and Papa, I made it – your Leon is going to the World Cup. We came a long way. Proud to be your son.” The tweet was accompanied with a photograph of the FSV Mainz 05 of Germany player, flanked by his father on his right and his mother on the other side.

Shehu Abdullahi (@OfficialShehu), also a defender, provided a clue into his philanthropic side when he tweeted his activity in Sokoto a day after the Uyo victory. The Anorthosis FC of Cyprus player had attended the Stop Cancer campaign programme of his foundation, The Shehu Abdullahi Foundation, in conjunction with Abuja-based Medicaid Cancer Foundation.

Abdullahi, who was voted the Man of the Match on the Nigerian side with N1million naira and 10 bags of rice which will be distributed to the charity of his choice, had given away five VIP tickets for the Nigeria-Zambia match.

Odion Ighalo and Ogenyi Onazi were a bit more dramatic with their tweets.