Nwabali Pleasantly Surprised By President Tinubu’s National Honours to Super Eagles 

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigeria’s new Number 1 goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has expressed amazement at the reception and national honours conferred on him and his Super Eagles teammates by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday in Abuja.

Speaking on a late night Arise News show  conducted by Suleiman Aledeh and Ngozi Alaegbu, yesterday, Nwabali revealed that Super Eagles players and officials were stunned by the national honours, flat apartments and lands  in Abuja showered on the team by the Federal Government despite not winning the 34th Africa Cup of Nations they lost in the final to hosts Côte d’Ivoire 1-2 on Sunday evening.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect these goodies from President Bola Tinubu. But when he was announcing the gifts to the team, I just was dazed. I was wondering what would have happened if we had won the AFCON 2023 trophy for Nigeria,” observed the Chippa United goalkeeper in the South African Premier League.

Asked what the future holds for him, Nwabali said he would love to play in Europe but is not in a rush to move from South Africa for now.

“Of course, people have been sending me messages , wishing that I go to Europe for greener pastures in bigger clubs. I really wish it comes true. But honestly, I always feel comfortable where I am , even if it is a small place and wait for the nice one to come. I don’t like rushing. That is not my style,” he stressed.

He recalled his debut for Nigeria against Mexico three years ago when he wished it becomes a permanent one. “ I really wished to be here in the Super Eagles. Because  we lost I didn’t know when the opportunity will come again. In my heart, I knew that day will come. And here I am today. I believe this issue of playing in Europe will also follow that familiar route,” he hoped.

Nwabali was however sad that Nigeria lost the AFCON 2023 final to Côte d’Ivoire.

“With all the big stars in our team and how we went all the way to the final, I was looking forward to celebrating the AFCON title with Super Eagles in this my first outing in the tournament,” the new Super Eagles  Number one goalkeeper said.

Speaking earlier in Abuja during the reception for the team at the Villa, Nwabali dismissed fears being nursed in some quarters that he may be haunted by South Africans due to his heroics that sent out the Bafana Bafana from the tournament at the semifinal stage in Bouake.

“Definitely, I must go back to my club, but talking about the threat, this is football. You can’t threaten someone because South Africa also defeated some other teams to reach that stage of the tournament. It doesn’t make sense to me. Its all football. I don’t think there’s anything attached to it. Maybe it was just weirdo writing rubbish on social media.

“But it’s cool to me because I spoken with my Club Chairman three days ago and he didn’t mention any stuff like anybody threatening me,” concludes Nwabali.