Former Nigerian international Victor Ikpeba has shared his assessment of the Super Eagles’ ongoing goalkeeping debate in the wake of the team’s 2–1 victory over Madagascar in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo.
While reflecting on the team’s performance at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Ikpeba turned his attention to the battle for the number one jersey, boldly asserting that Stanley Nwabali has done enough to cement his status ahead of Maduka Okoye.
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In a chat with SuperSports, Ikpeba pointed out that Nwabali’s composure, leadership at the back, and clutch displays in major fixtures give him a definitive edge.
Although the Chippa United goalkeeper conceded an early goal when Madagascar breached the offside trap, his overall command and game management continue to win over critics.
The former forward noted that while squad depth is crucial, Nwabali has consistently seized his opportunities on the international stage to distance himself in the pecking order.
“Credit to Nwabali, he’s the number one goalkeeper for the national team. In my opinion, he’s better than Maduka. People at home might disagree, but he’s the number one goalkeeper for the national team.
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“He showed that attribute again, the belief, the determination, ‘I’m going to stop the lad’. Yes, the Madagascar attacker should have done better if he had a technique like me in my days.
“He demonstrated that characteristic once more, the assurance, the resolve, ‘I shall prevent the player’. Certainly, the Madagascar forward ought to have performed more effectively had he possessed technical proficiency comparable to my capabilities during my career.
“He prevented our embarrassment because at that moment, had it been 2-1, the match’s conclusion remains uncertain. The result might have concluded 2-2 or resulted in our defeat 2-1.”
13 Comments
Though I wasn’t pleased on how he was too relaxed and couldn’t care to make a move for that madagascar goal..
Great goalkeepers will still make a move and then wait for the ref to judge if it’s offside or not….
Not being over confident that it must be ruled offside and not bother to make a move knowing fully well there is no var…
But however, Looking at that one on one again that Nwabali saved…
You will know that he really played football in the street of port Harcourt…
Lol…
He came forward, then went back waiting for the player with his eyes on the ball, then he made the dive…
It reminds me of those days when we want to catch a chicken on the loose ….lol…
He was brave and Courageous right there…
If it was maduka okoye, he would have been more concerned about his tattoo and fine boy than saving that one on one…
Hahahaha
Ironically,Okoye is good on one to one,but terrible at saving distant shots
Really? My guy greenturf..
We are talking about good for the Super eagles o not for udinese….
And overall as a goalkeeper whether one on one, distance, aerial balls, pen, free kicks, reflexes, personal magic, confidence etc I know as my guy you are not going to put your money on Mr cardi b right???
I think I agree with one of our football legend, Victor Ikpeba, on his assessment of the No 1 Super Eagles Goalkeeping department going to Stanley Nwabali, without a doubt, currently.
He has more composure, shows more courage, more commitment and certaily makes more crucial saves than Maduka in Pressure matches involving the SE. He remains the undisputable No 1 SE goalkeeper for now.
All the goalies are good. We need all of them. Ikpeba should relax. What if we say Amunike was far superior to Ikpeba? How does that help team unity and harmony?
Indeed, one goalie has to be number one, but no need to make divisive comments and create bad blood
among our goalies.
If one wins they all win.
They are there to help each other.
Well said, one would expect better comments from an experienced former international but Ikpeba has always been a loose cannon
E go just open em mouth waaaaa! Na wa ooo!
Lol. No mind am.
Imagine an NFF board member (abi nah former sef) – like an elder statesman in football – dey yarn opata like beer parlor commentator:
“…In my opinion, he’s better than Maduka. ”
“…had he possessed technical proficiency comparable to my capabilities during my career.”
This Ikpeba can rate himself sha as if he was first 11 player.
Even commentaries in the beer parlor are more polished than this.
As a public figure, he should be more careful with his utterances.
Apart from his impressive performance, we did not see the old aggressive, agbero-esque behavior.
He was passionate, but also calm, composed, focused.
I love the way we are adding our local dialect to the English way of expressing ourselves, let us keep this going, @pompei and @kel, after all we can be too foreign this is Nigeria football we are talking about.
Well said @Wike. You are wealthy and wise.
Unnecessary coment from victor ikpeba
Give this man a team or a group of people to manage na him go scatter dem with him water melon mouth
Nwabali is undisputed nr 1
Okoye and okonkwo are good enough to stand in incase of any urgency….