Omotayo Olayinka Aremu

Nigeria

Finding it

The rain poured on Tricania for two hours. The ground was marshy, and vendors lining the train- track wrapped up to keep warm.

Beyond the cold was a piercing chill; the presence of soldiers, guns and amour tanks. A reminder of the lingering tension between Christians and Muslims of Tricania in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Fights had broken out unexpectedly, leaving a high level of vigilance.

Nobody paid attention to a loud radio programme discussing the match between Nigeria and Spain in the ongoing 1994 FIFA World Cup.

A young man set down a black and white television and powered it with a car battery. Sluggishly, he tuned in to the game as a stoned face soldier matched up to him. Silence.

Two became three, and soon a large crowd was gathered.

By the time Sunday Olise hit a shot from mid-field to score Nigeria’s winning goal, the crowd went berserk. “Goooooaaaaaaal!”

Muslims and Christians hugged, soldiers cuddled civilians, women clapped and danced…. For a moment, the wall of differences crumbled.

Home time, I said aloud, holding the items I had bought. Indeed, I thought as I walked. “To every human difference, there is a stronger bond. We only need to find it.”