Former Olympic goalkeeper, Joseph Dosu, has said that Stanley Nwabali overdoes things sometimes but added he is the sort of goalie the Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle likes.
He said that Nwabali is really a good goalkeeper as he stays calm under pressure and can make important saves that change the outcome of a game.
People are still unsure about which goalkeeper to be the Super Eagles’ first choice. While some fans and experts like Nwabali’s bold moves, some others are worried about his decisions and think he’s too risky.
Super Eagles fans have asked him to be less showy, but when compared to his time in the Nigeria Premier Football League, where he used to dribble all the way from goal to midfield, his current playing style looks more controlled.
Nwabali’s strange and hard-to-predict style has been compared to famous players like René Higuita and Jorge Campos, who were also known for their unusual and creative ways of playing.
Dosu said that Chelle likes goalkeepers who play boldly and fearlessly, while speaking on ThePlayzone podcast.
“The first time I saw his picture was when my older brother showed it to me. My brother was the goalkeeper coach for Go Round.
“This player is tall and very big, and he’s a good goalkeeper for the future.” He also mentioned that if the player brings his head down he will definitely play as the goalkeeper for the national team.
“The most important thing is, first of all, what did Super Eagles coach Eric say about him? He mentioned he likes a goalkeeper who is really crazy. Whatever we say is not important. He wants goalkeepers who communicate with their defenders and the other team’s players to make them feel scared.
“So, when it comes to his work, is he doing it properly? Yes. Maybe he sometimes he overdo things, but he’s still working hard as a goalkeeper — keeping the ball out of the net when he’s supposed to. He isn’t a bad goalkeeper.
Nwabali has kept eight clean sheets in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, which is two fewer than Vincent Enyeama, Nigeria’s all-time record holder.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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