The End

My World Cup stay in Moscow ended with my return to Lagos via Istanbul and the Vnukovo Airport where I touched down on Russian soil.

It was a 24 hours journey from my hotel in Baumanskaya to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport – a 2 hours metro ride to Vnukovo, a 4 hours wait, a 3 hours trip to Istanbul, a 7 hours lay over before an 8 hours flight to Lagos.

I caught as much sleep as I could in the plane and at Instabul. During the lay over, I met two pretty Kenya ladies – a doctor and a digital marketer. I enjoyed our conversations and I should visit Mombasa next. I wished I could join them on their European tour.

Football is such a uniting force. It is beautiful. These 10 days I have had the privilege of seeing places, meeting people and making friends.

Thank you Moscow. I enjoyed the Metro – Baumanskaya, Kurskaya, Chistiye Prudy, Mariina Roscha, Smolenskaya, Srenstevy Bulvar, Chkalovskaya, Okhotny Ryad, Ploschad Revolyutsii, Arbatskaya, Biblioteka Imeni Lemina, Sportivnaya, Vorobyovy Gory, Universitet, Salaryevo and Lujniki.

I enjoyed the meals – McDonalds, KFC, Emeka’s kitchen, My-My, one Chinese restaurant at GUM. I loved that KFC ice cream. I would miss the broad smile of that Chinese waitress at KFC.

I loved the places – Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow University, the Fan FEST, the Fan Shop, GUM, Kremlin, Red Square, Chisty Prudy park, University nature park etc. Lovely.

I met football people – Infatinno (FIFA president), Ahmad (CAF president), Fahmy (CAF Secretary General), Kisu, Jennifer (journalists), Emeka and many others. There were other foreign journalists too. Fisayo was there too. I met with Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah and his team. I met Robbie of Arsenal Fan TV. Thank you all.

I met with the Nigerian Ambassador to Russia and leaders of the Nigerian community. I met with Queen, Maryam and Dayo. I met Danil and another Russian guy who I can’t recall his name. Thank you.

I met die-hard fans like Gavin who flew in a day before the Belgium-England game and could do anything for the Three Lions. Proper fan. There was Cami the French businessman.

There were fans from Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Armenia, Croatia, France, China, Senegal and all over the world. We had a good time in the stadium, fan fest and on the road.

I wore my Nigerian jersey with pride and it was an attraction to many, despite being knocked out during the group stage.

Thanks to the apps – Uber, Yandex Metro, Google Map, City Mapper, Google and Google Translator. They were very useful in my stay. Thank you Moscow, Thank you Russia.

Thank you Victor Edeh, Edosa Ayemere and the Goonerdaily family. You were catalysts.

Thank you – yes, you. Thank you for reading through.

Thank you Football. Congratulations France. Hello Qatar.

The End

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