Give us this day is verse 11 of the Book of Matthew chapter 9 which talks about our Lord's prayer.
Jesus Christ was teaching his disciples how to pray so that 'Our Father in Heaven', who knows all things we need would give us our daily bread.
That is the prayer on the lips of most Nigerians in these days of fear, hunger and want, occasioned by insecurity.
Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn
Today is a special day for Nigerians who love football and see it as a balm to soothe their nerves as they groan under the economic hardship and insecurity prevalent in the country.
Before Thursday, when the Super Eagles played their first match in the Africa play-offs for the 2026 World Cup qualifications, Nigerians had been divided over the lingering terrorism, over the threat by US President , Donald Trump to send in troops to smoke them out .
The pains of citizens who relied on sports, football in particular, to calm their nerves grew following the shambolic display of the Super Eagles who couldn't fly in a seemingly easy group of the World Cup qualifiers.
With four matches left to play in the group, the Super Eagles languished at the fourth position and fans' hope of the team qualifying became forlorn. But the players were not deterred.
At least they had a new coach who they believed in and may have talked to themselves that they shouldn't be missing a consecutive World Cup.
That was the spirit with which they approached the last match on home soil against Benin Republic. The Nigerian lads upped their game with Victor Osimhen firing a hat-trick in the process to get the result they needed to earn a play-offs place.
Suddenly hope was revived among Nigerians, including those who paid a passing interest when the team played before. Seeing that Nigerians had thrown support behind them once again, the players must have rehashed the lyrics of Justin Bieber's song, Never say never in their minds as they headed to Morocco for the first match against the Panthers of Gabon. Part of the song goes thus: "I will never say never. I will fight till forever, to make it right. Whenever you knock me down, I will not stay on the ground".
Two days before the match, stories filtered in that the players had boycotted training, protesting accumulated allowances, from as far back as 2019. Nigerians began to wonder why the issue of owed allowances never get to come to an end .
The players resumed training after their meeting with the NFF bigwigs. The settlement terms were however, and as usual, not made public by either the NFF or the players.
The Gabonese may have thought that the players who boycotted training, haggling for money would not be in a good mental state to battle for a final spot with them.
At that level, some Nigerians also feared that the boycott drama would definitely take its toll on the team.
But it was a different ball game when the South African referee, Abongile Tom, who the NFF had petitioned both FIFA and CAF against, blew his whistle for hostilities to begin.
It was a ding dong affair. The Super Eagles dominated in the first half but got no goal. While the Panthers raised their game in the second half but conceded a goal in the 78th minute. They levelled scores 11 minutes after to take the game into extra time.
From this stage the Super Eagles never removed their legs from the throttle. They routed the Panthers, scoring three goals, with the team's talisman, Osimhen scoring a brace to end it 4-1 on the night.
They may not have bothered to watch the second semi final between perennial foes, Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and DR Congo as they were exhausted from the almost three hours of hard football.
Right now, the Eagles are ready to face DR Congo who pipped Cameroon 1-0 in a tightly contested match. And their coach, Eric Chelle seems to have struck the right cord with the players.
Some of the new boys he introduced have not let him down. It is heart-warming to know that what his Gabonese counterpart,ThierryMouyoumahadplanned waspunctured.
That was the fear expressed here a couple of weeks ago. That he must have a plan B in case Osimhen is caged. They had Osimhen caged but Chelle had some others like Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke the Gabonese knew very little or nothing about thrown up to hit them hard.
The same Gabonese who had many scorers in the team suddenly fired blank. And one of Chelle's new inclusion, Frederick Benjamin did a yeoman's job, holding the experienced Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang down all through the game.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
However, today their opponents are not the Gabonese but a stubborn DR Congo side who lost the automatic ticket of their group to Senegal by just two points.
Knowing that no two games are the same, Chelle must plot another strategy with his players to unnerve the Congolese and unlock their defence.
Both sides have met six times in the past beginning from 1966. They have won three times while Nigeria beat them twice. Thesixthandlastencounterwasin2018anditended 1-1.
In today's final at the 22,000 capacity Stade Prince Moulay Hassan in Rabat, Nigerians are asking the Super Eagles to give them the needed victory to proceed to the Intercontinental playoff in March next year.
I don't think it is too much to ask. They have travelled throughthefootballwildernesstothispoint. Theyareseeing the promised land, the 2026 World Cup. And they must get there, with focussed mind and determination.
