By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
ACLSportsACLSportsACLSports
5
Notification Show More
FootballNewsWomen's Football
Brazil 2027: FIFA unveils host Stadiums for global fiesta
1 day ago
FootballNewsNPFL
NPFL: Abia Warriors pull ahead in continental race
2 days ago
Age-Group FootballBlogsFootballNews
Saudi ’89 WYC: Damman Miracle and speeding ticket and more..
2 days ago
Age-Group FootballFootballNews
U20AFCON: Flying Eagles through to quarter final
2 days ago
FootballNewsNWFLWomen's Football
NWFL Super 6 Preview: A Battle of Queens for the crown in Ikenne
2 days ago
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • Football
  • Naijaheroes
  • Grassroots
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • News
  • More
    • Laughter, Leather & Losses
    • #YOURSPORTSMEMO Podcast
    • Blogs
    • Competition
Reading: One Step From Glory: Nwabali Walks In Oliseh’s Footsteps
Share
Font ResizerAa
ACLSportsACLSports
Search
  • Home
  • Laughter, Leather & Losses
  • Football
  • Naijaheroes
  • Grassroots
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • News
  • #YourSportsMemo
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
ACLSports > Blog > Football > AFCON 2023 > One Step From Glory: Nwabali Walks In Oliseh’s Footsteps
AFCON 2023BlogsFootballNews

One Step From Glory: Nwabali Walks In Oliseh’s Footsteps

Sola Egunjobi
Last updated: February 11, 2024 2:48 pm
Sola Egunjobi
Published: February 11, 2024
Share
As featured on NewsNow: Sport news
Sport News 24/7 

It’s not often that a national team newcomer perfectly fits the mould of the last piece of a puzzle and inspires his team to Nations Cup glory.

That could very well become the lot of Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali if the Super Eagles overcome hosts Côte d’Ivoire in the 2023 Nations Cup Final in Abidjan on Sunday.

Such has been Nwabali’s impact at Afcon 2023 that it is hard to imagine the Super Eagles reaching the final without him. The stardust may belong to African Footballer of the year Victor Osimhen; the key goals may have come from Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman; and the plaudits may have gone the way of the resolute skipper Williams Troost – Ekong. But it is the commanding, cool, calm, and ever smiling presence of the 6ft 5in Nwabali in goal that has helped lay the foundation for the Eagles’ progress so far.
Four clean sheets, 14 saves and only one goal conceded from open play are the numbers that tell the story. The two penalty saves in the semi-final shootout win over South Africa only further cement the legend. It’s been an impressive debut performance for a player who had only played twice for Super Eagles prior to this finals and his arrival, on this evidence, should surely resolve Nigeria’s long standing problem in the goalkeeper position.

Yet, Nwabali, would only be following in the illustrious footsteps left thirty years ago by a Super Eagles legend: Sunday Oliseh.

Like Nwabali in 2024, Oliseh was the new kid on the block in 1994, when Nigeria won the Nations Cup for the second time in Tunisia. He had hardly featured for the Super Eagles when they arrived for Afcon 94.

And like Nwabali in 2024, his inclusion, as a tenacious, ball-playing, holding midfielder, solved a long standing positional problem for the Super Eagles.

His impact in 1994 was just as telling as what we have seen of Nwabali in 2024.

The 20-year old Oliseh proved the missing piece in Clemens Westerhof’s Super Eagles project, protecting the defence and linking play impressively. His influence on the attacking end was even more impactful: of the Eagles’ nine goals in Tunisia, Oliseh assisted four, often with precise, searching passes from deep. Not that anyone took note of assists back then, but three of them helped Rashidi Yekini to the Golden Boot (he scored five), and one provided the winning goal in the final for Emmanuel Amuneke.

Super Eagles’ supporters will be hoping for a similar winning ending in Abidjan – as will Nwabali of course. Nigeria will be counting on him to be at his calm and confident best to see off the host nation and cement his name amongst the legends of Nigerian football. Just as Oliseh did thirty years ago.

CAFCC: Enyimba record crucial win at Djoliba of Mali
Day 3 Legacy Volleyball: Festac experience mixed fortunes
Handball: Lagos Seasiders overpower Delta Force
Spurs 1-1 Burnley: Clarets extend Tottenham’s Wembley misery
CAFCC: Rangers’ Nana Bonsu sure of victory
TAGGED:AFCON2023Ahmed MusaNigeria Super EaglesStanley NwabaliSunday OlisehWilliam Troost-Ekong
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
Previous Article CLASSIC FINAL PREVIEW: Nigeria vs Côte d’Ivoire
Next Article Badminton: Opeyori leads 11 others to African Championships
Leave a Comment

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Categories

YourSportsMemo

Latest News

Brazil 2027: FIFA unveils host Stadiums for global fiesta
Football News Women's Football
NPFL: Abia Warriors pull ahead in continental race
Football News NPFL
Saudi ’89 WYC: Damman Miracle and speeding ticket and more..
Age-Group Football Blogs Football News
U20AFCON: Flying Eagles through to quarter final
Age-Group Football Football News

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow

Archives

Latest News

UNITECOL Cup: How LASU reigned supreme in intercollegiate Cup
Football Grassroots News
U20AFCON: Flying Eagles off to winning start in Egypt
Age-Group Football Football News
Nairobi ’87: Hospitalised in Addis Ababa, ego Emeka and more..
Blogs Grassroots News

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 16.7K other subscribers
ACLSportsACLSports
Follow US
© ACLSports. All Rights Reserved.
adbanner