Nwabali's Key Save Earns Praise After Nigeria's Win

In Nigeria's 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar during the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, head coach Éric Chelle and former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba commended goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali for his crucial one-on-one save against Madagascar captain Rayan Raveloson early in the second half. This save was pivotal as it occurred while Nigeria was still trailing.

Chelle acknowledged the difficulty his team faced in breaking down Madagascar's defensive strategy and criticized their technical execution. Ikpeba declared Nwabali as Nigeria's No. 1 goalkeeper, asserting he is superior to Udinese's Maduka Okoye.

He emphasized that Nwabali's save could have significantly altered the match's outcome. Nwabali's appearance marked his first for Nigeria since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where he kept four consecutive clean sheets.

Chelle expressed satisfaction with his players' determination to secure the win, highlighting their commitment to the national team.