AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Icon Peter Rufai Praises Nwabali After Setting New Record in Ivory Coast

• The Super Eagles ended their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a defeat to Les Elephants
• Goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, was one of the standout players of the showpiece in Ivory Coast
• A Nigerian football legend has praised the Chippa United shot-stopper following his heroics

Leading up to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, Nigerians were fraught with concerns regarding the state of the goalkeeping department for the Super Eagles.

The team had been beset by a barrage of high-profile errors from their primary goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, in the run-up to the prestigious event.

One such mistake, notably against Ghana, ultimately cost Nigeria a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

However, as anticipation mounted for the AFCON in Ivory Coast and scepticism surrounded the Super Eagles' goalkeeping capabilities, coach Jose Peseiro made a surprising decision by entrusting Stanley Nwabali with the crucial role between the posts.

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Despite initial scepticism, the 27-year-old swiftly acclimated to the intense demands of the position, seamlessly adapting like a duck to water.

His remarkable performances played a pivotal role in Nigeria's journey to the tournament final, earning accolades from former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, who hailed the Chippa United star's contributions.

Rufai praises Nwabali after AFCON

In an interview with media outlet, TVC Nigeria, the 1994 Cup of Nations winner expressed his admiration for Nwabali, highlighting the goalkeeper's standout performance at the tournament.

Reflecting to the shot-stopper's performance, Rufai said:

"During the start of the AFCON, in the first match against Equatorial Guinea, that was my first time seeing Stanley Nwabali."

"After observing his performance, his movement, communication, and composure, I immediately thought to myself that Nigeria had finally solved the problem of finding a reliable goalkeeper for the Super Eagles."

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Rufai stated that he was impressed and pleased with that first game, with Nwabali's efforts between the sticks only improving from there.

"Throughout the tournament, Nwabali continued to grow, maintaining dominance in the six and sixteen-yard areas of the field."

"His ability to anticipate and read the game was fantastic. There was a moment when Nwabali came nearly 30-40 meters away from his goal to prevent a potential threat to the Super Eagles."

The Super Eagles legend hailed Nwabali as going beyond a figure in the goals, becoming someone who actively read the game for Nigeria.

"I applaud him, and Nigerians applaud him too. Nigerians admired his performances, and as a goalkeeper myself, I was impressed by Nwabali's displays."

Rufai's sentiments resonate with many home fans who have been thoroughly impressed by Nwabali's prowess.

The former Enyimba shot-stopper set a new record for the longest clean sheet among Nigerian goalkeepers at the AFCON, remaining unbeaten for 493 minutes across seven matches.

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Peseiro speaks on his future

In another report, Sports Brief stated that the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Peseiro has discussed his coaching future following the loss in the final against Ivory Coast.

The 63-year-old mentioned that he is still under contract with the team until the end of March but also remains in talks with the Nigerian Football Federation over any new contract.