By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria’s senior men’s national team head coach Eric Chelle has defended first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who has recently come under criticism for inconsistent performances.
Nwabali, 29, who plays for Chippa United, was widely scrutinized following a shaky showing in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Lesotho. Reports also indicate tensions with teammates arising from on-field errors.
Despite calls for Nwabali to be replaced, Chelle emphasized the goalkeeper’s commitment and character.
“Nobody knows what I ask of my players. Sometimes they make mistakes, which is normal. Maybe I told Nwabali to be strong. I don’t want a ‘nice guy’ in my team,” Chelle said in an interview with Eagle FM.
The Malian coach drew on his own playing experience, recalling a Serbian goalkeeper he had worked with who displayed intense passion and determination on the pitch.
“I want a player with a top character. I know that sometimes he needs to relax, but the reality is that Stanley gives everything on the pitch for the team and the country,” Chelle added.
Chelle’s comments underline his confidence in Nwabali’s ability to rebound and continue serving as a key figure for the Super Eagles in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
