A MESSAGE OF HOPE

*ATLANTA 96: NIGERIA vs BRAZIL*

*```A MESSAGE OF HOPE```*
_I never fail to draw meaningful life lessons from real life issues_.

I remember the historic football match between Nigeria and Brazil in Atlanta 1996.
Brazil was the king of global football and they knew it. So, Nigeria losing to Brazil that night would not be a big deal.

Gosh! Brazil dealt with us that night. Till around the 77th minute (about 12 minutes to the end of the game) Brazil was obviously dominating the game. The score line was Brazil 3, Nigeria 1.

Despite the Brazil squad including star names such as Carlos, Rivaldo, Bebeto and Ronaldo, Nigerians watching the game still thought Nigeria did not deserve such humiliation by the Brazilian boys.

Nigerians became angry toward the end of the match; many had turned off their television sets, some were even shedding tears, while few hoped and prayed that we would not be further disgraced with yet another goal.

_*But the unimaginable happened in the game*_!

_At about 78th minute Victor Ikepba struck from 20 meters to score the second goal for Nigeria and, from that moment, everything changed beyond the 3-2 score line: Pressure came upon Brazil, and Hope for the Nigerian players -they became more motivated and began to fire shots from every angle_.

_Then another miracle, at the 90th minute, just before the final whistle, Kanu Nwankwo (Papilo) turned and flipped the ball over Dida and it was another goal, THE EQUALISER_.

*What a wonderful match*!

There was a rule then- _*the Golden Goal*_, that the first to score in the extra time wins the game.

Then came the decisive goal from Papilo in just 3 minutes of the extra time… And that was how the messy game became a message.

*Learning Points*
_-Don't put a final stop to where God has put a comma_
_-Don't give up hope_
_-It is not over and can't be, 'cos you still live_
_-Wipe off the tears and buckle your shoes_

_A lot can still be done this year to make it a glorious year, the remaining part of the year is sufficient to define the whole year_.
_It is too early to give up on your beautiful expectations for this year_.

*Next Steps*
1. _Review_
2. _Restrategize_
3. _Relaunch_

*_Resist the pull of fatigue regardless of_*:
_-Past disappointments_
_-Deferred expectations_
_-Failures_  and
_-Broken promises_

*_And peradventure you're already on the winning track_*:
_Don't rest on your oars_;
_Don't let down your guard_.

*The final whistle isn't blown yet.
_Keep moving_....
_You're getting closer_...
_You can_...
_*You will win*_!PRAISE GOD