LESSONS FROM NIGERIA’S VICTORY AT THE JUST CONCLUDED AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS

When Nigeria finally qualified for 2013 African Cup of Nation tournament most Nigerians myself inclusive never believed in the team representing them rather they were called all manner of names. The insult and unbelief got to its climax at the released of the team’s list by the head coach with the list consisting six home based players. The NFA and most Nigerian queried the intelligence of Stephen Keshi and indicting him of dropping foreign player so that Nigeria can loss out of the tournament early. Our first and second matched with Burkina faso and Zambia ended 1 all at piece, it was not a good time for the team as they were re-christened “Super Chickens” “weak legs” “Failing team” and the list of names goes on and on.

It was surprising to see the rhythm easily changed as the Eagles won their match against the Ivorian as against the comments such as “Ivory Coast show us the way home” “End of the road for Eagles” “Eagle’s wings shall be totally clipped”, the stone which the builder rejected by throwing away is gradually becoming a piece to be picked and considered for the construction work. Mali came and they were crushed 4 -1 by our own darling “Super Eagles” and the whole world began to say Go for the Gold while some artists had gone to studio for recording in preparation for the victory while a lot of Nigeria posted this prayers for their darling dream team:

LET US PRAY: Our Eagles who art in AFCON, heavens know thy names, thy victory come. Thy skills be shown today, as it was against the Ivorians. Give us this trophy, our daily prayer and forgive those who killed Victor Moses' parents as we forgave the Egyptian referee that blew against us. Lead us not into defeat but deliver us from the Burkinabes. For thine is the trophy, the medals and the money, forever & ever Amen. True to your prayers God heard and the eagles really soar high on Sunday to claim the cup for the third time after nineteen years of waiting.

RATIONALE

·         PERSISTENT FAILURE LEADS TO LONELINESS: When failure has become a man’s identity such becomes a social orphan. Super Eagles did not have enough supporters at the beginning of the tournament because of the past consistent failure.

·         YOU OWN THE ONLY VOTE FOR YOUR SUCCESS: Always remember that you are the greatest psychologist you can ever have. Your situation and or circumstances should not determine your success you should be the commander in chief, remember you are created a success not a subordinate to success.

·         BE DEAF:  Despite the fact way everyone across the globe booed the Eagles they maintain focus and won the trophy. The coach and his crew was deaf to the side comments and abusive words throughout the whole tournament and now they have the floor to talk back if they choose to. 

S/N	MATCH FIXTURES		RESULT	STAGE	Comments
1	Nigeria	Burkina Faso	1-1	Group Stage	They are bloody  failures
2	Nigeria	Zambia	1-1		They could have beaten Zambia
3	Nigeria	Ethiopia	2-0		At least they qualify for the next stage. But the next match is the end of the road for them
4	Nigeria	Ivory Coast	2-1	Quarter-Final	We knew they have all it takes to win this match, those guy are too much menh
5	Nigeria	Mali	4-1	Semi-Final	We spelt MALI, it is not a joke, but that cheap goal should not have been conceded now, Haba Enyama!
6	Nigeria	Burkina Faso	1-0	Final	Foot Ball is made in Nigeria, We are the king. Sunday Mba you are too much

GOD STILL ANSWERS PRAYERS

This will give you the chills........      GOOD chills.

A young man had been to Wednesday Night Bible Study.

The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice.

The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?"

After service, he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message.  Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways.

It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God...If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk.

He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home.

But again, the thought came: ‘buy a gallon of milk’.

The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli.

"Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home.

As he passed Seventh Street he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street."

This is crazy he thought, and drove on past the intersection.

Again, he felt that he should have turned down Seventh Street .  At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh.

Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will."

He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a semi- commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhood either.  The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat.

"Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk.

Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something, but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away.

The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he  just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?"


The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway.

Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face.

The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk."

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I asked him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?"

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face.

He knew that God still answers prayers.


THIS IS A SIMPLE TEST.... If you believe that God is alive and well, send this to at least ten people and the person that sent it to you!!!!!!!!
This is so true. Sometimes it's the simplest things that God asks us to do, if we are obedient to what He's asking, we can hear His voice more clear than ever. Please listen, and obey! It will bless you (and the world). Phil 4:13