Super Eagles custodian Stanley Nwabali remains under intense scrutiny following a critical error in the match against Lesotho, with former striker Brown Ideye among the vocal critics targeting the Chippa United goalkeeper.
Nigeria secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Lesotho on Friday during their FIFA World Cup qualifying clash, preserving their ambitions of reaching the global tournament.
Guided by Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles dominated much of the game, with second-half strikes from Troost Ekong and Akor Adams putting them comfortably ahead.
However, a momentary lapse in focus from Nwabali allowed Lesotho to reduce the deficit late in the match, nearly jeopardizing Nigeria’s two-goal advantage.
Brown Ideye Voices Displeasure Over Nwabali’s Error
Brown Ideye expressed his frustration regarding a defensive breakdown involving goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali and the backline.
“The communication from Nwabali was subpar, and this isn’t an isolated incident. Just imagine if that ball had slipped through,” Ideye commented. He further added.
“The ball was rolling slowly, and I was yelling ‘no’ from the sidelines. Luckily, they failed to equalize.”
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In the aftermath of the match, Nwabali has faced widespread condemnation from supporters and former professionals, with many demanding his exclusion from future squads.
Contrastingly, former Super Eagles goalkeeper Sam Elijah has advised coach Eric Chelle to maintain faith in Nwabali ahead of the forthcoming encounter with Benin Republic.