The race for the Super Eagles of Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper shirt may have taken an unexpected turn, as a video of an unknown Caucasian athlete boldly declaring himself the next Super Eagles goalkeeper has gone viral, Soccernet.ng reports.
Stanley Nwabali, who is the current number one goalkeeper for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, may have to watch his back henceforth.
In the now-trending clip, the young white man—wearing a Super Eagles jersey—makes a striking proclamation to be the next goalkeeper for the Nigerian national team.
“Mark my words, I am going to be the starting goalkeeper for Nigeria at the next AFCON.” he said in the video.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
While the identity of the speaker remains unclear, his confidence in donning the Nigerian green has sparked a wave of reactions across social media.
The video, which surfaced on Facebook and has since been widely shared, comes at a time when Nigeria’s goalkeeping position appears more stable than it has been in years thanks to Nwabali, who currently holds the number one spot.
Nwabali In Between the Sticks
Nwabali’s stock rose dramatically following his standout performances for the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The South Africa-based goalkeeper played a pivotal role in the Super Eagles journey to the final and was widely considered one of the tournament’s top shot-stoppers.
Had Nigeria not conceded in the final, Nwabali was in strong contention for the Golden Glove. This has earned him an interest from clubs like QPR, Al Ettifaq, and most recently, Raja Casablanca, who are reportedly preparing a move for him this summer.
According to South African reports, Chippa United are open to selling the 29-year-old if the price is right, with his current market value at €650,000.
As former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu put it:
“He is a fantastic goalkeeper with the quality to succeed anywhere… Ultimately, it is up to Stanley to decide what he wants from his life and football career.”
Be it a joke or a challenge, competition for places in the Super Eagles squad is expected to heat up with the 2025 AFCON in Morocco drawing closer.
