Nigeria and Olympiacos defender Bruno Onyemaechi has urged Nigerians to be more supportive than critical of Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, Footynaija.com reports.
Following the international retirement of former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama back in 2015, Nigeria struggled to find a reliable replacement to own that number 1 jersey despite trying out a few decent options.
The likes of Carl Ikeme, Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye all got their chances between the sticks but for various reasons, none of the aforementioned shot-stoppers was able to provide long-term stability in that position.
Nwabali came into the picture just before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. It was a time when the then first-choice goalkeeper Uzoho was out of sorts and his deputy Okoye just wasn’t reliable enough.
The Chippa United shot-stopper went on to have an outstanding performance at the AFCON and has since established himself as Nigeria’s out-right first-choice.
However, his recent displays have been plagued by questionable moments here and there, drawing the ire of some fans. But Onyemaechi, who extolled the qualities of Nwabali in a recent interview with Football Fans Tribe, urged Nigerians to take things easy.
“Nwabali is an easygoing guy you can communicate with. He knows what he needs to do and what he shouldn’t do, so he’s a chief,” the Olympiacos defender said.
“Nwabali has studied Enyeama and observed how he played. He knows that if he makes a mistake, he is out.
“That’s why he communicates with the backline, making sure they understand what he needs and doesn’t need from them.
“Sometimes I read comments about Nwabali and see people criticizing him. Nigerians should take it easy.”
Despite his recent shaky form, Nwabali remains Nigeria’s best option between the sticks for now. Barring any injuries or a drastic drop in form, the 28-year-old will be marshalling the Super Eagles backline come September’s rounds of qualifying matches.