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The Audacity Of Hope: Super Eagles And Our Faltering Political Class

Published

3 months ago

October 15, 2025

By Israel Adebiyi

There are moments in a nation’s story when a game becomes more than a game-when the sweat on the pitch mirrors the struggle of a people, and the roars from the stands echo the collective heartbeat of a nation desperate for redemption. Such was the scene when the Super Eagles clawed their way back from the brink of elimination to secure a playoff spot in the race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

It wasn’t just football; it was symbolism-a parable in green and white. From the dreary days of uninspired draws, missed opportunities, and lackluster displays, the Eagles stood on the edge of national disappointment. The odds were stacked, the critics were loud, and the faith of millions trembled. Yet, when the final whistle blew in their emphatic victory over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic, something shifted-not merely in scoreline, but in spirit. It was a triumph of grit, not glamour; of will, not wealth; of belief, not bluster.

Nigeria needed that moment. In many ways, the Super Eagles’ journey mirrors the story of the country itself-a people endowed with talent, weighed down by inconsistency, often their own worst enemies, yet still capable of soaring when purpose meets passion.

Comebacks do not happen by accident. They are built on self-reflection, discipline, and a renewed sense of mission. Before the turnaround, the Eagles had looked like a team without direction. Disjointed in play and spirit, they embodied what happens when leadership loses vision and followership loses faith. But something changed-the game plan was redefined, individual brilliance gave way to teamwork, and complacency bowed to hunger.

Therein lies the first lesson for our nation’s leadership: redemption begins with recognition of failure. It takes humility to accept that the path one treads leads nowhere. For months, Nigerians cried out for accountability and vision-not just from their footballers but from those who govern. Our leaders, like the Eagles before their awakening, must learn that no nation moves forward when its strategy is based on improvisation rather than introspection.

In that decisive match, the Eagles played not as men protecting a privilege, but as warriors defending pride. They fought like men who knew the alternative-failure-was too bitter to bear. Hunger, it turns out, is the secret engine of excellence. When comfort sets in, mediocrity follows; but when hunger burns, possibilities unfold.

That, again, is the Nigerian story. For too long, we have watched leaders bask in comfort zones while the nation groans under the weight of complacency. The hunger for transformation-the fierce desire to prove that we can rise beyond our failures-must return to our national psyche. The Super Eagles didn’t win because they had better boots or bigger names; they won because they had something to prove. And perhaps that’s the mindset we need in our public offices, our schools, our industries-men and women who are driven, not by perks of position, but by purpose.

The audacity of hope is what keeps nations alive when all else fails. When the Eagles faltered in earlier matches, Nigerians lamented but did not surrender. Hope persisted, sometimes faintly, but enough to keep the drums beating. It was hope that made millions still tune in, still believe that perhaps, just perhaps, the tide could turn.

That same hope must animate our civic and political life. Hope that the economy can recover from its staggering inflation. Hope that our schools can rise again from neglect. Hope that insecurity can yield to peace, and that leadership can once again mean service, not self-interest.

But hope, on its own, is not magic-it must be partnered with strategy and sacrifice. The Eagles did not just hope their way into victory; they trained, they adjusted, and they fought. In the same way, our national rebirth will not happen through wishful thinking. It will require collective participation-citizens holding leaders accountable, leaders inspiring citizens with vision, and institutions working beyond selfish agendas.

Every government, like every football team, begins with a promise-to perform, to deliver, to inspire. Yet, how many administrations start strong and end in disarray, having lost both focus and the trust of the people? The Eagles’ story reminds us that it’s not how well you start, but how courageously you finish.

For our political class, the message is clear: when the people you lead lose faith in you, it is not a media problem-it is a leadership problem. The Eagles didn’t silence their critics through propaganda; they did it through performance. They let their results speak. Leadership must learn the same principle. The Nigerian people have heard enough speeches; what they crave are results-visible, tangible, life-changing results.

In the end, what happened on the field was more than a sporting victory. It was a moral sermon, a national mirror. It said to us: “You can stumble, you can fall, but you must not stay down.” It said to the struggling student, the weary civil servant, the disappointed voter-keep faith. There is always another match, another chance, another season.

And that is the essence of nationhood. We rise, we falter, we rise again. The story of Nigeria, like that of the Super Eagles, is not one of perfection but of perseverance. We are a work in progress-a people of resilience, resilience born from countless setbacks and sustained by an unyielding belief in tomorrow.

The Super Eagles have given us more than joy; they have handed us a metaphor for redemption. They have shown that no matter how dark the first half, the game is not lost until the whistle blows. But they have also challenged us-to find in our collective life that same hunger, that same resolve, that same audacity to hope.

For Nigeria, as for her footballers, the message is timeless: the future belongs not to the loudest, but to the most persistent; not to the privileged, but to the purposeful.

If we can summon, as a people, the discipline of the comeback and the hunger of the Eagles, then perhaps one day, our national anthem will no longer sound like a prayer for what could be-but a celebration of what we have finally become.

News

Eating Takeout Food Often May Increase Heart Disease Risk — Study

Published

10 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Research suggests that higher takeout food consumption may increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart disease.

In a new study, published in Food Science & Nutrition, researchers said eating takeout food too often can influence systemic inflammation that underlies much cardiovascular disease.

The study of over eight thousand people in the 2009 to 2018 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found that those who eat greater amounts of takeout food are likely to have various elevated risk factors for heart disease.

They were interviewed in their homes and also visited a mobile examination centre, where they recalled their food intake, received cardiometabolic health assessments, and had blood collected.

Mammograms may predict heart disease risk in women — Study

The researchers found a correlation between the amount of takeout food a person consumes and their likelihood of developing chronic low-level inflammation, a key driver of cardiovascular pathology.

Deaths from cardiovascular disease and the consumption of takeout foods are both on the rise, and while that does not prove a causal relationship, the study explores whether there is a connection between the two.

The study tracked degrees of systemic inflammation according to the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), a scale that quantifies the risk of inflammation related to the intake of specific dietary substances.

The three major takeaways from the analysis included that a higher level of takeout food consumption corresponded to an unfavourable cardiometabolic profile consisting of lower HDL, as well as higher triglycerides, fasting glucose, serum insulin, and insulin resistance.

Jayne Morgan, MD, cardiologist and Vice President of Medical Affairs in a reaction, who was not involved in the study, explained that “Takeout food raises the cardiovascular risk not because of one ingredient, but because of a predictable combination of nutrients, additives, and preparation methods that adversely affect blood pressure, lipids, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and endothelial function.”

“This includes excess sodium that increases blood volume and blood vessel stiffness, and unhealthy fats, usually saturated fats or trans fats, that increase cholesterol level and atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke.”

Michelle Routhenstein, Preventive Cardiology Dietitian at Entirely Nourished, also not involved in this study, declared, “It is also important to recognise that frequent takeout use often reflects broader lifestyle pressures such as demanding schedules, limited access to cooking resources, irregular meals, and disrupted sleep, all of which can quietly compound cardiovascular risk.”

News

How To Identify Fake Kiss Condoms In Circulation

Published

12 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has recently warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Kiss brand condoms in major markets across the country.

Contents
Original DKT Kiss condoms
Fake Kiss condoms

In a public alert published on its website recently and referenced as Public Alert No. 042/2025, the agency said the warning followed information received from DKT International Nigeria, a non-governmental organisation involved in contraceptive social marketing and HIV/AIDS prevention.

NAFDAC stated, “The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control is notifying the public about the sale and distribution of fake Kiss condoms in various Nigerian markets.

“The information was received from the MAH-DKT International Nigeria, a leading non-governmental organisation focused on contraceptive social marketing. Its mission is to provide Nigerians with affordable and safe options for family planning and HIV/AIDS prevention.

“The fake Kiss condoms have been reported to be found in Onitsha Market, Idumota Market, Trade Fair Market, and various markets in Kano, Abuja, Uyo, Gombe, Enugu, and others.”

Kiss condom is a brand of male latex condoms designed to offer sexual protection, including the prevention of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis.

To help consumers avoid counterfeit products, NAFDAC outlined key differences between original and fake Kiss condoms.

Original DKT Kiss condoms
The original product comes in a light red box pack with clear instructions printed on the lower part of the pack, including single-use warnings and storage and caution information. The box contains detailed medical device information, including MDSS GmbH, Germany, and a complete Nigerian address at Isolo Industrial Layout, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

The condom pack is light red, with the word “Kiss” closely written on six lines. The wallet outer pack is lighter red, carries the Oshodi-Apapa address, manufacturer details, and a clear product description beside the condom image. The hidden flap includes revision dates, medical device details, and caution information, while the wallet inner contains detailed instructions and eight bullet points under important notes.

The original condom is large, oval-shaped, well-lubricated, and has a large teat end for semen collection.

Fake Kiss condoms
In contrast, fake Kiss condoms come in darker-coloured box packs with little or no additional information. Some boxes are plain white inside and lack condom images. The address is wrongly listed as 42, Montgomery Road, Yaba, Lagos, while the manufacturer’s address is incomplete or missing. Storage and caution information is absent.

The condom pack is darker, with “Kiss” loosely written on five lines and wide spacing. The condom strip is longer than the original. The wallet outer pack is also darker red, carries incorrect or missing addresses, lacks colour wave designs, and shows inconsistencies in barcode lines. Medical device and caution information are missing, and the hidden flap contains no details.

Inside the wallet, information is summarised with only six bullet points. The fake condom is thinner, round-shaped, less lubricated, and has a smaller teat end.
(TRIBUNE)

News

Lagos: Police Arrest 14 Suspected Traffic Robbers On Lekki-Epe Expressway

Published

15 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Fourteen persons suspected to be involved in traffic-related robbery have been arrested at various points along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos over the past two weeks.

The arrests were confirmed on Tuesday by the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, via a post on her official X handle, @AbimbolaShotayo.

According to her, operatives of the Command’s Tactical Squad based in Elemoro carried out the operations that led to the suspects’ apprehension.

She explained that the arrests followed sustained patrols and intelligence-driven operations aimed at curbing criminal activities associated with traffic congestion and improving the safety of motorists and other road users along the busy corridor.

Adebisi noted that the development reflects the Command’s determination to strengthen security and uphold law and order on the Lekki-Epe axis, adding that the Tactical Squad has continued to proactively identify crime-prone areas and respond swiftly to threats posed by criminal elements.

She called on residents and commuters to support police efforts by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing and detecting crime.

“Security is a shared responsibility. Members of the public are encouraged to stay alert and promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station,” she said.

The police spokesperson further reassured residents and road users of the Command’s commitment to maintaining aggressive patrols and security operations to protect lives and property in the area.

She reiterated the Command’s community policing message, “See Something, Say Something,” stressing the importance of cooperation between the police and the public in sustaining peace and security.