Shehu Dikko, the former Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, has shed light on why Stanley Nwabali, the new Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper, did not feature under former coach Gernot Rohr, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Nwabali has emerged as the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for Nigeria during the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, impressing fans with his performances.
Dikko explained that Nwabali had always been on the radar of the national team. He recalled an incident in June 2019 during the NPFL Super Six in Lagos when Nwabali, playing for Enyimba FC at the time, was considered a potential successor/competitor to Uzoho. However, Rohr’s attempt to scout him was compromised when Nwabali’s club General Manager informed him of Rohr’s presence, causing the young keeper to feel jittery. Despite this, Nwabali showcased his goalkeeping skills, earning a spot in the NPFL Allstar team in 2022 for matches against John Terry, Roberto Carlos, and the home-based Super Eagles against Mexico in the USA.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Dikko emphasized that Nwabali’s rise to prominence at the AFCON reflects the talent within the domestic game.
In the recent AFCON match against South Africa, the 27-year-old goalkeeper saved two penalty kicks, contributing to Nigeria’s 4-2 victory and securing a place in the final. Despite having only six previous appearances for the Eagles, Nwabali has become the preferred choice under head coach Jose Peseiro, edging out Francis Uzoho.
With impressive performances and just two goals conceded in competitive games, Nwabali, representing Chippa United, aims to maintain his stellar form in the AFCON final against Ivory Coast on Sunday.