Ikpeba Backs Nwabali Against Okoye
as Eagles First-choice Shot Stopper Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba made a bold claim following Nigeria’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Madagascar on Friday evening, insisting that Stanley Nwabali
Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been hailed by former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba as the team's number one shot-stopper, following Nigeria's hard-fought 2-1 victory over Madagascar. Ikpeba made the claim following the match, which came in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
Okoye had started both of Nigeria's previous friendlies in June, but was unavailable for selection against Madagascar due to arriving late for international duty and attending an event backed by his Italian club. The turning point of the match came in the 51st minute, when Nwabali produced a crucial save to deny Rayan Raveloson from restoring Madagascar's lead in a one-on-one situation.
Ikpeba praised Nwabali's belief, determination, and ability to keep Nigeria in the game, stating that if Nwabali had made a mistake in that moment, the outcome of the match could have been different. Nwabali's performance was a highlight of the match, as he had kept four consecutive clean sheets at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations prior to this game.
Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle also praised Nwabali's performance, highlighting the difficult defensive approach Madagascar employed throughout the match.
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