In Sunday’s Super Bowl—the championship of American football—Moro Ojomo and C.J. Uzomah were part of the victorious Philadelphia Eagles.
Ojomo, a defensive lineman from Lagos, played well in his team’s 40–22 upset of the Kansas City Chiefs. Uzomah, a pass receiver with roots in Nigeria, missed the game due to injury. Both were part of the victory celebration in New Orleans, which went long into the night.
THE EAGLE: MORE THAN A SYMBOL
To me, the Eagle isn’t just a logo, a team name, or a mascot. It’s personal. It’s legacy.
Three days before the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory, I marked the anniversary of my grandfather’s passing—Ambassador Dr. Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu, CFR, HLR. A man who, in his lifetime, carried the weight of Nigeria’s identity on his back and disrupted the course of history himself.
In 1960, as Nigeria approached independence, the nation’s official emblem featured the Crown Bird. But my grandfather—then a bold and visionary leader—stood before the House of Representatives and argued for change. The Crown Bird, while stately, didn’t reflect the power, resilience, and ambition of the Nigerian people.
He proposed replacing it with the Eagle—a bird that flies high, sees what others cannot, and strikes with precision. The motion was accepted unanimously. Today, that Eagle is Nigeria’s national symbol. It represents strength, dignity, and the determination to fly higher than anyone expects.
And now, decades later, two men of Nigerian heritage—Moro Ojomo and C.J. Uzomah—stood at the pinnacle of American football, draped in Eagles green, proving yet again that Nigerians don’t just take part in history. We shape it.
MORO OJOMO: FROM LAGOS TO SUPER BOWL CHAMPION
Moro Ojomo wasn’t supposed to be here.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, he moved to the United States at just eight years old. He had no blueprint, no roadmap—only an unshakable work ethic.
At Katy High School in Texas, he built himself into a force. At the University of Texas, he refined his game. And on Super Bowl Sunday, he delivered—two massive tackles, including a tackle for loss, helping to shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense.
His journey? Not given. Earned.
His performance didn’t go unnoticed back home. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulated Ojomo, stating, “Your journey from Lagos to the NFL exemplifies resilience, determination, and unmatched talent. You’ve made Lagos and Nigeria proud on the global stage.”
It’s more than football. It’s legacy.
C.J. UZOMAH: A LESSON IN RESILIENCE
For C.J. Uzomah, this win was personal.
He had been here before.
In Super Bowl LVI, he fought through a sprained MCL, pushed past the pain, and lined up for the Cincinnati Bengals—only to walk off the field with a 23-20 loss to the Rams. No ring. No celebration.
That could’ve been the end of the story. Instead, it became fuel.
This year, injuries kept him off the field, but nothing could keep him from this moment. He stood on the sidelines, watching his teammates dominate, knowing that no matter what, he had earned this.
Championships aren’t just about talent. They’re about resilience. And C.J. Uzomah is a champion.
HONORING THE NIGERIANS WHO PAVED THE WAY
This isn’t just about today’s champions. It’s about the giants who made it possible.
From Christian Okoye, the “Nigerian Nightmare” who bulldozed defenses in the late ‘80s, to Osi Umenyiora, who helped lead the New York Giants to two Super Bowls—Nigerians have been proving they belong on football’s grandest stage for decades.
A special salute to Osi Umenyiora, who didn’t just win—he continues to bring African talent into the spotlight, making sure the next generation of players walk into the league knowing they belong.
From the pioneers to today’s champions, from Lagos to the Lombardi Trophy—this is our legacy.
A MOMENT FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
This is bigger than football.
It’s about breaking barriers. Rewriting narratives. Disrupting. Standing in spaces once thought unreachable.
Men like Ambassador Dr. Chief Matthew Tawo Mbu, Moro Ojomo, C.J. Uzomah, and Osi Umenyiora prove that history isn’t just something we remember—it’s something we create.
