The football coach who gave Super Eagles goal keeper, Stanley Nwabali his first experience in an organised league set up, has described his exploit at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON finals in Côte D’Ivoire as well anticipated.
Coach Ngozi Elechi who stated this alongside other officials of Go Round FC, said he had to convert Stanley Nwabali to the goal keeping department after watching him play as an attacker and later goal keeper in a community soccer championship.
Most of the goal keepers that had manned the goal post for Nigeria at previous AFCON finals after Vincent Enyeama were either products of football academy or had cut their teeth in Europe except for Stanley Nwabali who started his career with former Omoku-based Nigerian Professional Football League NPFL side ,Go Round Football Club.
Coach Ngozi Elechi, who gave Nwabali his first amateur experience before becoming a premier keeper, told AIT.live how he discovered the now Super Eagles goal tender.
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Coach Elechi and some officials attributed Nwabali’s sterling show for the national team to his calmness and control over his back line.
According to them, Stanley Nwabali’s penalty heroics, did not come to them as a surprise because he had displayed same in a Rivers State FA cup final between Go Round Football Club against Rivers United.
Elechi also heaped praises on Super Eagles Assistant Coach, Finidi George for convincing Coach Peserio to scout for Nwabali at Chippa United FC in South Africa.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
