Stanley Nwabali, currently under contract with South African club Chippa United, unexpectedly assumed the role of the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper in the 2023 AFCON, replacing Francis Uzoho due to criticism from Nigerian football enthusiasts. Despite not being the initial choice, Coach Jose Peseiro’s decision to field Nwabali has proven to be a stroke of genius.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper has showcased exceptional skills and has become an indispensable asset for the Super Eagles. In the ongoing 2023 AFCON, Nwabali has maintained an outstanding record, securing four clean sheets in five games and conceding just one goal throughout the tournament.
This achievement puts Nwabali on par with the legendary Best Ogedegbe, who, 44 years ago, became the first Nigerian goalkeeper to achieve such a remarkable feat. Ogedegbe accomplished this during the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria emerged victorious by defeating Algeria 3-0 in the final.
Ogedegbe’s clean sheet run included consecutive shutouts against Ivory Coast and Egypt in the group stage, following a 3-1 victory over Tanzania in the opening game. He continued with clean sheets against Morocco in the semifinals and capped off the tournament with another in the final against Algeria.
Stanley Nwabali has now equaled this historic record in the 2023 AFCON, with the Super Eagles achieving a 1-1 draw against Equatorial Guinea, a 1-0 win over Ivory Coast, a 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau, a 2-0 win over Cameroon, and a 1-0 win over Angola on February 2.
As the Super Eagles advance to the semi-finals against either South Africa or Cape Verde on February 7, Nwabali has the opportunity to make history by becoming the first Nigerian goalkeeper to secure five successive clean sheets in AFCON. It’s worth noting that during Ogedegbe’s era, the absence of a quarter-final round prevented him from achieving more than four consecutive clean sheets after the opening game.