Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has disclosed the secret behind Nigeria’s penalty shootout win over South Africa in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
Nwabali was at the heart of the semi-final story, where he brilliantly made penalty saves and cost Hugo Broos’ men a place in the final with his performance earning him a Man of the Match award in that game.
In a chat with FARPost, he stated that he has never doubted his ability.
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“When we went to penalty shootouts against South Africa, my coaches said Nigeria were going to win because they know me,” said Nwabali.
“People didn’t know me. Only a few teams in South Africa knew that when you go to penalty shootouts against Stanley, it’s gone.
“You’re finished; just forget about the game. You must give me the man of the match because I will save a lot.
“A lot of Bafana Bafana guys didn’t know me. But maybe they might have seen in the video analysis or asked questions back in South Africa.
“If you look at the eyes of the Bafana Bafana players, they looked scared. If you watched the game and you look at their eyes when taking a penalty against me, they looked scared.
“So, when you’re not confident enough to stand, I know you’re going to fumble in the penalty. I was not surprised by Mokoena’s miss, and I was not surprised by Makgopa’s miss.
“So, these teams like Polokwane, Sekhukhune, Stellenbosch, they know that if you go to penalties with me, it’s finished.
“I’m not praising myself, I always want to keep quiet because I know what I can do.”
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COMMENTS
Nwabali to the World!
South South region to the World fa
WITH THIS YOUR BELIEVE YOU ARE CLAIM ONE SHIRT FOR LIFE.
DEY PLAY!
So we would have won the trophy if the final had tied after 120 minutes? Good to know for future game plans since you’re our penalty-savings specialist.
Lol exactly, and I will advise him to be more ambitious and chase bigger dreams like Ligue1 or EPL where he will improve and make excellent name like his Mentor Vincent Enyeama. Also using this medium to salute him for bailing us out when we needed a messiah because I doubted him before Afcon when he conceded during the friendly before Equatorial Guinea opener.
Finidi or the next coach should also give Rasheed from Swedish league a look in to create competition and help us to evaluate him from close angle because Leke is wasting the 3rd spot judging by what we see of him in training via drilling clips I have come across.
These are my opinion which is subject to scrutiny from intelligent fans.
That is my Bobo. Nwabali is so special, dedicated and always humble.
Now I hope the likes of Deo, Sean and co are seeing what I’m seeing kę?
Nwabali is our no1 and we have to support him. Uzoho and Okoye should support Bobo too. Hmm. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
This report has been here like forever. Won’t CS update or bring something newer and more recent?