The Untold Story of Stanley Nwabali’s Missed Super Eagles Opportunity in 2019: A Former NFF VP’s Revelation

In a recent revelation, former Vice President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Shehu Dikko shed light on why goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali missed his chance to join the Super Eagles during Gernot Rohr’s tenure in 2019.

The revelation comes at a time when Nwabali has been making headlines for his stellar performances in the ongoing 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

According to Dikko, Nwabali had been on the radar of the national team for quite some time.

In fact, in June 2019, during the NPFL Super Six in Lagos, Rohr was invited to watch Nwabali as a potential successor to current Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.

However, due to a miscommunication, Nwabali was informed of Rohr’s presence, which made him nervous and affected his performance.

Despite the missed opportunity in 2019, Nwabali continued to demonstrate his talent as a goalkeeper.

In 2022, he made the NPFL Allstar team for the match against John Terry and Roberto Carlos, as well as the homebase Super Eagles match against Mexico in the United States.

Fast forward to the present, Nwabali has been instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the 2024 AFCON final.

In the semi-final match against South Africa, he saved two spot-kicks in the penalty shootout, earning him the Man of the Match award and helping the Super Eagles secure a spot in the final against Ivory Coast.

Nigerian fans are now hoping that Nwabali maintains his impressive form in the final on Sunday. His journey to the Super Eagles has been long and winding, but it seems that his time has finally come.

As the football community eagerly awaits the 2024 AFCON final, the spotlight is on Stanley Nwabali and his incredible journey to becoming a key player for the Super Eagles.

With his talent and determination, there’s no telling how far he can go in the world of football.