Former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, Greg Etafia has added his voice to the ongoing debate over recent errors committed by Nigeria’s current first choice, Stanley Nwabali, but opined that there’s no cause for alarm.
Sports247 reports that, rather than add to growing concern among Nigerians that Nwabali is on a downward slide, Etafia insisted the Chippa United of South Africa shot-stopper can still be counted on.
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The former Plateau United of Jos and Moroka Swallows of South Africa safe hands added that Nwavali has what it takes to boost Nigeria’s belaboured quest for a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Etafia retorted, “With Nwabali, there’s no cause for alarm. It’s just one of those stages in goalkeeping, but he has already done so well in his career, especially when called upon to feature for Nigeria’s national team.
“Throughout AFCON and the World Cup qualifiers, he had been doing well. It was just a phase he passed through in two of our games before the last one.”
Etafia reflected on the Eagles’ last match of the original qualifiers, and enthused that keeping a clean sheet in Nigeria’s 4-0 trouncing of Benin Republic was a big morale booster not only for Nwabali alone but the entire team as well.
He reasoned further, “In the last game, he kept a clean sheet, and we won. Now we are in the play-offs, which is a new ball game.
“With the confidence they now have and again staring at qualification to the World Cup, I believe they will win. It’s a long route, but we won’t mind once we get to the World Cup.”
The baby-faced ex-international reiterated that the Eagles must rise to the occasion and correct the poor start they had in the qualifiers, then stressed that the players should make the qualification possible so that Nwabali will not be taken as a scapegoat.
“Once we get to the World Cup, we won’t mind any route through which we pass. World Cup is the ultimate, and Nwabali is one big part of the team. So, let’s allow him to enjoy it.
“We need to also know that defending starts from the front and stopping goals is not for the keeper alone.
“When things happen like this, many people always highlight goalkeeping mistakes, but I don’t think there’s any cause for alarm, because he’s a top goalkeeper and he’s been doing very well,” Etafia stressed.
