Nwabali reacts to critics after Super Eagles triumph against Egypt
Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali
Abdullateef Fowewe
Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali scripted a stunning turnaround at AFCON 2026, silencing early critics with four clean sheets in the knockout stages and clinching a bronze medal via a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Egypt on Saturday evening.
Nwabali faced fierce backlash after conceding in Nigeria’s opening matches, but he roared back with unbreakable resolve.
His penalty saves against Egypt sealed the 4-3 shootout win after a goalless draw, capping a tournament where he conceded just four goals across seven games.
Reacting on social media post-match, Nwabali said, “A bad game does not make you a bad player,” a poignant reminder of resilience amid fan fury over his initial slips.
The Chippa United star’s brilliance extended to earlier heroics, including stunning stops against Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush in the semi-final loss to Senegal.
Those efforts earned him Man of the Match honours and flipped the narrative from doubt to nationwide acclaim, with performance data underscoring his dominance—four clean sheets anchoring Nigeria’s third-place finish.
