By James Moses (9News Nigeria -Jos)
Nigeria’s goalkeeping legend Peter Rufai was left impressed by the performances of Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali during the recent concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and reckons that the the Super Eagles goalkeeping crisis has been resolved to the satisfaction of all Nigerians.
Many Nigerians were worried before the start of the Africa Cup of Nations as the then first choice Francis Uzoho was a shadow of himself due to lack of playing time at Omonia Nicosia, and the same applied to Maduka Okoye who was also inactive at Udinese.
In search for a reliable goalkeeper, Super Eagles tactician Jose Peseiro embarked on a journey to South Africa to monitor Nwabali at close quarters before handing to him a recall to the national team after more than two years in the international wilderness.
iThe Portuguese tactician took almost everyone by surprise after naming Nwabali in the starting line-up in the Super Eagles’ African Cup of Nations opener against the Equatorial Guinea.
Rufai who was highly impressed by Nwabali’s contribution poured ecomium for his outstanding performances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON) hosted by Ivory Coast.
In an interview with TVC News Nigeria, the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Gold medalist and two time World Cupper, highlighted what really impressed him about Nwabali at the just concluded AFCON.
“Assessing Nwabali in the commencement of the AFCON, the first game against Equatorial Guinea, that was my first time of seeing Stanley Nwabali”.
“Immediately I assessed his performance, his movement, communication, composure and I immediately said to myself, Nigeria has been able to solve this problem, the yearning of Nigeria getting a better goalkeeper for the Super Eagles”
“Nwabali in that first match against Equatorial Guinea satisfied me and I was happy with what I saw, Nigerians were happy with what they saw as well but it didn’t end there”
“Subsequently, Nwabali continued, growing into the competition, maintaining and dominating the six meters and including the 16m of the field, and was general command of the 18-yard box”
“His coming out, anticipation, reading the game was fantastic. There was a time Nwabali came almost 30-40m away from his goal to save what could have been another danger for the Super Eagles”
“He’s not just in the goalpost as a goalkeeper but was busy reading the game and that was something I really like about Nwabali”
“I give him a thumbs up thumbs up and Nigerians gave him a thumbs up. Nigerians loved the performances of Nwabali”
Recall that the Chippa United of South Africa star was highly remarkable and his performances played a crucial and pivotal role in Nigeria’s final journey to the tournament final, earning him accolades across the globe.
However, Nwabali who is bold, strong and highly creative and was the best discoveries ever made by Jose Poseiro.
Nwabali was also the best thing that has happened to the Super Eagles and Nigerians, as the goalkeeping department has suffered and in many years and remained static and stagnant.
The team was craving and anxiously waiting for a “messiah’ that will bring succour to the team, and now they’ve got it, and the Eagles are now “resurrected.”
Nwabali now holds the absolute record for the longest clean sheet among Nigerian goalkeepers at the African Cup of Nations after he remained unbeaten for 493 minutes across six matches.
-9News Nigeria.
