Rise of a Football God-Chapter 394: AFCON final; Morocco vs Nigeria [4]
Sam received the pass, and then…
BZZZ!
Like usual, as soon as Sam received a pass, Sofyan Amrabat went in hard with a tackle, starting with his right leg to aim for the ball even as he slammed his body against Sam, trying to shake him off balance.
But this time though, Sam predicted everything in his head.
With his back facing Sofyan Amrabat, facing his side of the pitch, he anticipated Amrabat's move and braced for it.
He lowered his body a bit, resting backward to brace for impact, then…
Bam!
Amrabat clattered into him from behind but having braced for it, Sam did not shake nor did he lose balance. Instead of losing balance, his eyes gleamed with malicious intent as he cleverly borrowed the force instead, spinning in place.
Using Amrabat's body as a pivot, Sam spun on the spot, taking the ball with him and subtly pushing the Moroccan midfielder aside.
In that one move, from facing his side of the pitch, he was able to turn around using Amrabat as a foil, now facing Morocco's side of the pitch.
And with his slight push, making Amrabat lose balance, Sam was free for just a fraction of a second before Amrabat could recover.
That little time… was all he needed!
Bam!
Sam hit the ball long and chased after it!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His long legs ate yards of space in the pitch, chasing after the ball.
Sofyan Amrabat did a good job keeping him in check in this final that the moment he broke free, the Moroccan squad shook in trepidation.
"Stop him!" The Moroccan coach screamed from the sidelines.
Ounahi was the first to appear, blocking Sam's path.
Without blinking in panic, Sam's legs moved instinctively, rapidly swinging over the ball as he executed step overs.
Wary of being dribbled past, instead of going on the tackle, Ounahi backpedaled in the face of Sam's threat and in the process he was losing his balance.
'A chance…!' Sam's eyes gleamed.
He kicked the ball to the left, Ounahi responded by going left.
But just as fast, he kicked the ball back to the right, forcing the Moroccan midfielder to forcefully react, turning back to the right.
…and Sam kicked the ball to the left again!
This time, Ounahi could not react.
He slipped!
Bam!
Sam kicked the ball, exploding past the midfielder who collapsed to the field in his wake, watching him leave, stunned.
Ounahi was stunned, but Amrabat was not.
Having picked himself off, the Moroccan midfielder was already chasing after Sam but he was not as fast as Sam.
He chased Sam's shadow.
But he had other assurances, there were still more Moroccan players to pass.
Sam's next obstacle was Hakim Ziyech.
Acknowledging his threat, the Moroccan attacking midfielder already tracked back and now blocked Sam but he was even easier to kill.
A calculates stagger, a body feint and Hakim Ziyech was left shaking, scrambling to no man's land.
Sam dealt the finishing blow with a silky smooth elastico dribble.
BZZZ!
Hakim Ziyech collapsed to the pitch on his butt!
Sam moved with ruthless intent.
"STOP HIM!!!" The Moroccan coach kept screaming in the touchline.
And finally, with Hakim Ziyech out of the way, Sam entered the 18-yard box but that was when he ran into Morocco's fearsome defenders.
Thud!
Riad charged, his intent clearly to intimidate the Nigerian midfielder.
But Sam's eyes were clear, unafraid, and focused.
…not today.
As Riad charged in, Aguerd, the 2nd Moroccan center back accompanying him to double-team Sam, with clarity, Sam moved straight at them.
Bam! Bam!
2 slick, lightning-fast touches of the ball.
A la croqueta and Sam passed Riad, but Aguerd was not having it, blocking Sam's advance with his body.
If Sam was stopped that way, and he fell, it was likely to be awarded as a penalty but Sam did not fall as Aguerd was about to clatter into him.
Instead, he killed all his momentum and speed, halting, then…
BZZZ!
Sam executed a rainbow flick on the spot.
Aguerd backpedaled, eyes widening as he watched the ball float above his head, knowing well that he was unable to reach it.
His eyes flickered with desperation.
Looking to the side as he watched Sam run past him, he tried to drag Sam's jersey, taking the risk for a penalty kick instead but Sam predicted that move.
As soon as he flicked the ball in a rainbow arc, he dodged as Aguerd stretched his arms to dodge his jersey.
But then…
Thud!
Yassine Bono rapidly charged out of his posts, closing Sam down.
Without panicking, as the ball descended after his rainbow flick, Sam hit the ball upward again with his 2nd touch, chipping Yassine Bono in the process.
Yassine Bono jumped but his hands could not reach the ball. He could only watch as the ball floated past him and as Sam ran past his side.
Sam was now facing an empty net!
Behind him, Sofyan Amrabat who pursued him all the way had a front-row VIP seat to watch what followed.
What followed was simple.
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The ball descended into Sam's path again. If he simply tapped it, it would enter the net but no, Sam was not satisfied with merely tapping it in.
He jumped, swinging his right leg and rifling the ball in on a volley.
BAM!
The net rippled.
And Sam charged off, towards the corner flag, before a stunned stadium as Nigerian and Moroccan fans alike watched in shock and disbelief, not quite believing what they just bore witness to.
Arriving at the corner flag, Sam slid on his knees in celebration even as he spread his arms, doing the Jude Bellingham celebration on his knees.
And then…
BOOM!
The Grand Stade de Tanger exploded!
Tens of thousands of Nigerian fans roared, screaming at the top of their lungs, celebrating. And this time, even some of the Moroccan fans reacted, giving a standing ovation to the god-like display that they just bore witness to.
"ZINEDINE SAM!!!"
"ZINEDINE SAM!!!"
"ZINEDINE SAM!!!" The commentator screamed in a shrill voice.
"Nigeria prayed for miracles, they got the little boy from Abraka, Delta State. Born in Nigeria, but with the heart and feet of a Brazilian!"
"God-like!"
"Unstoppable!"
"Unmatched!"
