National anthems serve as a powerful expression of national identity and a way to evoke a sense of belonging and shared history among the peoples of a nation. The recent scene at Brentford Stadium London revealed a twist in that profound truth that governments worldwide would do well to understand respect cannot be mandated — it must be earned. When some Nigerian fans refused to sing their country's official anthem "Nigeria We Hail Thee" and instead belted out the former anthem "Arise O Compatriots," they demonstrated that the true power of national symbols lies not in forced official designation but in genuine emotional connection.