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Super Eagles captain William Troost Ekong and his guests at the exhibition match to launch his foundation struggled with the new Nigerian national anthem.
As Pulse Sports reported, the Nigerian government has ordered a change in the country’s anthem. The 46-year-old Arise O' Compatriots was ditched for our first anthem as a sovereign nation, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” and the readoption has been a struggle for many Nigerians, most recently in the Troost Ekong Foundation charity game.
What happened
Super Eagles on-pitch captain William Troost Ekong launched his foundation, whose mission is to develop football in Akwa Ibom today.
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To mark the event, an exhibition football match was held, and Troost Ekong, along with a host of celebrities, played against each other.
As is customary in international sporting competitions, the national anthems of the participating teams are a feature. However, despite the match not being in the category, the organisers opted to play the national anthem, as the players lined side-by-side before kickoff, but it was not the familiar “Arise O' Compatriots” for many in the stadium.
The “not-so-new” official Nigerian national anthem, as authorised by the executive and legislative arms of government, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” blared across the stadium speakers, but the players who had their hands across their chests in fealty, or solemnly folded behind their backs, could only hum along or stay silent.
Celebrities like Falz, Sabinus, Odumodublvck, Joseph Yobo, Samson Siasia, Poco Lee, and even Ekong himself all cut confused or amused figures as the anthem played.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are on international duty against South Africa on June 7th, and it remains to be seen how well they will have adopted the new national anthem.
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