AFCON 2023: Ex Juventus Star Hails Stanley Nwabali As Super Eagles Hero

• Sunday Oliseh says Stanley Nwabali is the Super Eagles' new hero
• Nwabali saved two penalties in the shootout victory against South Africa
• The Super Eagles triumphed over Bafana Bafana 4-2 on penalty shootouts

Sunday Oliseh has hailed Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as Nigeria’s new hero following his performance in the country’s penalty shootout victory against South Africa.

The Chippa United goalkeeper put in a Man of the Match display as he saved two penalties in the 4-2 shootout victory over Bafana Bafana to secure a final berth for the Super Eagles.

According to Complete Sports, Oliseh was full of joy after Nigeria’s victory, and the former Juventus midfielder tagged Nwabali as the Super Eagles’ latest hero.

“Nwabali ! Nwabali !! Nwabali !!! After Osimhen’s 5 star performance, another hero is born! What composure, belief in God and a reassuring Smile by our Naija goalkeeper to send us to the AFCON Final,” Oliseh wrote on his X account.

AFCON 2023: Super Eagles goalie Stanley Nwabali cleared to face Angola on Friday

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The Super Eagles will face Ivory Coast in the final on Sunday after the hosts defeated Democratic Republic of Congo in the second semi-finals.

Nwabali condoles South Africa after loss

Meanwhile, Super Eagles custodian Stanley Nwabali has shown his love to South Africans and their supporters, although he assisted Nigeria in defeating Bafana Bafana on Wednesday night, Soccernet reports.

The 27-year-old goalie, who plays for South Africa’s Chippa United, was the hero for Nigeria as he saved two penalties in the shootout to deny Bafana Bafana from reaching their first AFCON final in 28 years.

Nigeria and South Africa played out a 1-1 draw in regulation time, with Nwabali conceding for the first time in five matches at the continental showpiece.

Nwabali saves Nigeria’s AFCON dreams

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Nigeria qualified for their first Africa Cup of Nations final since 2013 thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali against South Africa.

AFCON 2023: South Africa hero Williams looking forward to face Osimhen next

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The Super Eagles needed penalty shootouts to send parking a stubborn Bafana Bafana side, with the 27-year-old Chippa United saving two spot-kicks on the night as Nigeria won 4-2 after the game had ended 1-1 after extra time.

Nwabali had kept four consecutive clean sheets at the AFCON before conceding from the penalty spot in the 90th minute against Bafana Bafana.