Mozambique is going to the world cup.

I thought we Nebraskans get crazy about our American football, the expanse of red on the interstate highways, the surge in Lincoln on game day, Grandpa, aunts and uncles stopping work on the farm to go watch the Saturday games and shouts coming from my aunt and uncles house from the teenagers watching a Nebraska touchdown (or and Oklahoma one for that matter). It is good to see that Mozambicans get into their football (or soccer we like to call it in the US) as much as we get into ours. Today was the game between Tunisia and Mozambique. Mozambique has never been to the world cup and it has been five years since they ever scored a goal against Tunisia. My guard who was listening on his phone headset and making me concerned about his attentiveness to watching our house lept up and started shouting Halleluiah.

“If there is one thing I asked God this year it is that Mozambique would score a goal against Tunisia.” he shouted on his knees.
It is crazy because it has been so hot in Chimoio and people’s windows are open. The sound of people yelling all over the city emanated from the other side of our walled in yard from in front of their television sets. It as kind of surreal since earlier today he told me the US had beaten Argentina to officially enter the World Cup. I was the one to be jumping up and down at that point. It was a joy to shout and laugh and enjoy the experience. Mozambique is truly an underdog but they need something to look forward to especially since the World Cup will be held in South Africa. Maybe I can arrange a television so we can all watch the world cup together this next summer.