AFCON 2025
Former Nigerian midfielder Sam Elijah has called on Super Eagles Eric Chelle not to drop 1st choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali amid heavy online backlash following his poor performance against Lesotho.
The Chippa United stop-stopper, who has been Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper since the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, came under criticisms after committing costly errors that almost cost the Super Eagles victory in their 2–1 win over Lesotho at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening.
Elijah advocates that Nwabali’s errors should not erase his previous run of good performnaces in between the sticks for the Super Eagles.
He went to add that Nwabali will learn from the mistakes against Lesotho and such occurences won’t happen again as Nigeria take on Benin Republic in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.
“They should not drop him. He has been out saving hands for many matches, they should not crucify him for the mistake he made against Lesotho,” Elijah said in an exclusive interview with allnigeriasoccer.com.
“Although they were costly mistakes with the caliber of Nwabali. With his own experience and the kind of goalkeeper he is with his pedigree, he is not supposed to do such mistakes.
“But I will tell you he has experience and with this that happened against Lesotho, I am very sure he would be more careful. For me, he is a very good goalkeeper, I think we should go on with him.”
Sam Elijah criticized the current Super Eagles squad for not showing enough desire and hunger to qualify for the World Cup. He added that the players play as though they are playing football for leisure.
However, the former midfielder went on to charge the team to show more desire and hunger as they take on the Cheetahs on Friday.
“I always say that our players in the Super Eagles, to be sincere I will always say my mind, I don’t see the fire and zeal in them,” Elijah lamented.
“They don’t play as players that really want to play for the honour of their country.
“It is like they are just playing football for playing sake and fun. Even their preparation, when they show their preparation, when they are in camp, you don’t see that hunger in their face that this match tomorrow against Benin we are going to come out smoking.
“We are going to win the match 2-0 or 3-0.”
“I don’t want to be sentimental, I just want to be frank, the boys we need to up our game, if we want to win and qualify for the World Cup.
“Our boys must come out with a different character, not the way we play Lesotho. I don’t see the fire in them. We won the match, we thank God but the fire was not there.”
The Super Eagles must win against Benin Republic to take their tally to 17 points and hope that South Africa drop points against Rwanda to seal qualification for the World Cup next summer.
