Tyla’s hit song ‘Water’ served as the soundtrack to Wednesday night’s celebrations among Nigerians online, as they rejoiced over their victory against South Africa in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Earlier that day, prior to the match, South African musician Tyla was basking in the glory of her Grammy win, sparking pride among her compatriots. This achievement became a focal point in the banter leading up to the match, as the clash between South Africa’s Amapiano music genre and Nigeria’s Afrobeats set the stage for an intense showdown in Abidjan.
The narrative, fueled by Tyla’s Grammy win juxtaposed against Nigeria’s lack of similar accolades, fueled South Africa’s confidence that they would dominate both on the music charts and the football pitch, storming into the AFCON final.
However, the outcome proved to be quite the opposite, leading to a humorous Twitter spat where Nigerians emerged victorious after clinching the win on penalties.
Stanley Nwabali, a player representing South Africa’s Chippa United, emerged as the hero of the day by saving two crucial penalties, securing victory for the Super Eagles.
Prior to the match, South Africans had taunted Nigeria, labeling them a ‘generator republic’ in reference to the frequent power outages in the country. However, it was Nigeria who had the last laugh, emerging victorious on the field.
“We’ve triumphed on the pitch, and now Tyla belongs to us. We’ve conquered them. It’s now OURPIANO,” proclaimed one user on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, garnering thousands of retweets. “Use it to win the Grammy and AFCON,” quipped another user.
The aftermath of the victory sparked a flurry of hilarious reactions, highlighting the entertainment that ensued off the pitch.
