Former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba has publicly endorsed Stanley Nwabali as the superior goalkeeper to Maduka Okoye for the Super Eagles, following the team’s 2-1 victory over Madagascar on Friday evening. The comments come amid ongoing debate regarding the starting keeper for the national team during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Ikpeba made his assessment on SuperSport, stating, “Credit to Nwabali, he’s the number one goalkeeper for the national team. In my opinion, he’s better than Maduka. People at home might disagree, but he’s the number one goalkeeper for the national team.” The former striker highlighted Nwabali’s mental fortitude, noting that the keeper displayed the belief and determination to stop Madagascar’s attackers.
“He showed that attribute again, the belief, the determination, ‘I’m going to stop the lad',” Ikpeba said. He added that while the Madagascar forward could have performed more effectively, Nwabali’s resolve was decisive. “He prevented our embarrassment because at that moment, had it been 2-1, the match’s conclusion remains uncertain. The result might have concluded 2-2 or resulted in our defeat 2-1.”
The selection of Nwabali for the match against Madagascar was necessitated by the absence of Maduka Okoye, who had been the first choice during the June friendly fixtures. The Udinese goalkeeper was ineligible for the squad due to a late arrival at international camp. Reports indicate that the Nigeria Football Federation authorized Okoye’s delayed arrival to allow him to attend an event sponsored by his Italian club.
Nigeria’s win over Madagascar was closely contested, with the final scoreline reflecting the tight nature of the encounter. Ikpeba’s remarks place emphasis on Nwabali’s recent performance as a defining factor in the goalkeeper debate, suggesting that his contributions in high-pressure moments have solidified his status as the team’s primary option.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
