Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ Afcon hero Stanley Nwabali has delivered a special message to supporters in South Africa.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles hero Stanley Nwabali has sent a ‘no love lost’ message to fans in South Africa. The Chippa United man took to his social media platform to send the message after his heroics in Ivory Coast. He saved two post-match penalties for Bafana Bafana to send Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final on Wednesday.

WHAT NWABALI SAID AFTER SUPER EAGLES’ WIN
Stanley Nwabali poured out his feelings via his Instagram, Nwabali32, after the Super Eagles’ 4-2 semifinal win over South Africa. He wrote: “This is a game I’m born to play. A night to remember!!! I felt every bit of it!! Brick by brick and dreams are coming true. No love lost at all. I still love South Africa as much as their fans love me. My name is Nwabali Stanley Bobo and I love this team with all my heart. Safe hands.”

NWABALI’S IMPRESSIVE CLEAN SHEETS FOR SUPER EAGLES
Just like Bafana Bafana’s number one, Ronwen Williams, Stanley Nwabali has four consecutive clean sheets to his credit in six matches at the tournament. Both PSL keepers conceded during the one-all draw between the Super Eagles and Bafana Bafana in regulation time. The Chippa United man went on to stop two post-match penalties and win it for the West Africans. The Mamelodi Sundowns gloveman did not save a single post-match penalty. The 32-year-old, however, made brilliant saves in regulation time to deny Nigeria’s dangerman Victor Osmihen.

HOW CHILLI BOYS’ NUMBER ONE SNEAKED INTO NIGERIA SQUAD
The performance for the Chilli Boys’ number one has been soaring like that of an eagle at Afcon. Media reports suggest that Stanley Nwabali is on the radar of DStv Premiership and Europe teams. The 27-year-old was a surprise inclusion to the Super Eagles final Afcon squad. Previously, preference for the Super Eagles’ number one jersey was on Daniel Akpeyi. The 37-year-old then used to play for Kaizer Chiefs. However, months of inactivity after exiting from the Chiefs cost him a place in Nigeria’s squad. Months ago, Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro tinkered with the first-choice position. The Portuguese coach rotated the position among Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and Adebayo Adeley. The selection dilemma prompted Peseiro to assess Chippa’s number one in South Africa before selecting him.

WHAT NEXT NOW FOR HUGO BROOS’ MEN AT AFCON?
Elsewhere, the men for Hugo Broos will now fight for a bronze medal when they meet the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In another game, the Super Eagles face the host, Ivory Coast, in the final. The Elephants beat the Leopards of Congo in the other semifinal on Wednesday evening to reach the final scheduled for this weekend.