Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has brushed aside criticism over Nigeria’s failure to keep a clean sheet at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), insisting there is no cause for alarm within the camp.
Nigeria have conceded three goals in their opening two Group C matches but has matched that with an impressive attacking return, scoring five times to secure maximum points.
The Super Eagles opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Tanzania before surviving a late scare to edge Tunisia 3-2 on Saturday.
Those victories were enough to seal qualification for the round of 16, yet questions have been raised about the team’s defensive solidity, particularly after they allowed Tunisia back into contention from a seemingly unassailable position.
Goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman had put Nigeria 3-0 up before the Carthage Eagles rallied late on.
Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi struck in quick succession to set up a nervy finale, with Tunisian captain Ferjani Sassi going close to an equaliser in stoppage time as his header drifted narrowly wide.
Speaking in the mixed zone after the game, Stanley Nwabali dismissed suggestions that Nigeria are carrying defensive problems into the knockout phase.
“Tournaments like this, you are bound to concede goals. Even the best teams in the world concede goals,” he said.
“I don’t see any problem in the defence. At the last AFCON, we kept clean sheets in our first two games, but things have improved overall. We also want to keep clean sheets and it pains me when I concede, but we keep going as a team.
“We scored from set pieces and they also scored from a set piece. That is probably one of their strengths. Sometimes you can’t correct everything, but we try to deal with it.”
Nwabali, 29, has grown into the number one role since breaking into the Super Eagles setup ahead of the 2023 tournament, which was staged in the Ivory Coast last year.
He has since edged out Francis Uzoho and Ojo Olorunleke for the starting spot.
In the current squad, Uzoho and Amas Obasogie provide competition, but Nwabali was quick to stress that there is no rivalry behind the scenes.
“My first AFCON was with Francis, and I knew Amas before I left Nigeria,” he added. “These guys are amazing and they are like my family. We cover one another. There are no bad thoughts or bad energy.”
The Super Eagles of Nigeria, who have already secured their place in the round of 16, will round off their group campaign against Uganda at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30.
