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Former Super Eagles star, Brown Ideye, stated that goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali should not be held responsible for Gabon's equalizing goal during Nigeria's 4-1 victory in the 2026 World Cup playoff semi-final on Thursday evening.
Nigeria qualified for the mini-tournament as one of the best runners-up in the main qualifying series.
Eric Chelle’s team finished behind South Africa, which secured the automatic ticket from Group C.
In the match against the Panthers, the Eagles dominated the early stages but were unable to convert their dominance into goals.
They were fortunate not to concede a penalty when Bright Osayi-Samuel’s tug on an opponent's shirt was reviewed by the VAR pitchside monitor, but the referee chose not to award a spot-kick.
In the 78th minute, Adams Akor opened the scoring by capitalizing on a loose ball and finding the back of an empty net.
However, Gabon equalized 10 minutes later when Mario Lemina’s deflected shot slipped past Stanley Nwabali.
While speaking on Super Sports, Brown Ideye, who served as a pundit, remarked that Nwabali should not be blamed for the goal, particularly due to the deflection.
“Even the best goalkeepers would find it difficult to save that,” Ideye commented.
“I believe we cannot hold Nwabali responsible for that. It’s a deflection, and such things happen in football. You know how challenging it is when a goalkeeper is beaten at his near post.”
“It’s tough to fault Nwabali for that.”
Chidera Ejuke restored Nigeria's lead early in the first half of extra time by finishing off a pass from Wilfred Ndidi, followed by Victor Osimhen, who scored a brace.
Nigeria will now face the winner of the match between DR Congo and Cameroon to secure a spot representing Africa in the intercontinental playoffs scheduled for March 2026.
FAQs
Why should Stanley Nwabali not be blamed for Gabon's equalizing goal?
Brown Ideye emphasized that Nwabali should not be held responsible for the goal, as it was a deflected shot that would have been difficult for any goalkeeper to save.
What was the outcome of the match between Nigeria and Gabon?
Nigeria won the match 4-1, with Adams Akor, Chidera Ejuke, and Victor Osimhen scoring the goals for Nigeria.
Who will Nigeria play next in the World Cup playoffs?
Nigeria will face the winner of the match between DR Congo and Cameroon in the next round of the World Cup playoffs.
