SUPER Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has spoken of his ambition to play at the World Cup for the first time as the team get ready to host South Africa in Uyo on Friday.
The Chippa United shot stopper is relishing a second meeting with Bafana Bafana in four months and looking forward to the goalkeeping rivalry with returning Udinese star Maduka Okoye.
Nwabali starred for the Super Eagles in Cote d’Ivoire when they defeated South Africa on penalties in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals and the teams will go to battle again at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in a 2026 World Cup qualifying clash on Friday.
“This is different from the previous meeting. The first game was a knockout clash but this one is a group situation,” Nwabali told the Super Eagles media team.
“I won’t say the AFCON win gives us the edge for Friday; it only motivates us to go for victory.”
Nwabali only became the Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper at the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire but he is primed for his first home game in front of a stadium filled with Nigerian supporters.
The 27-year-old former Wikki Tourists goalkeeper is looking forward to it.
“It’s going to be a great game, I won’t say it’s going to be a tough game. Because playing in front of these fans will give me enough energy and motivation to do very well,” he said.
Nwabali insists that the Super Eagles are not under pressure despite needing to win after drawing their first two qualifying matches in November against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
“There’s no pressure. We’ll just take it one at a time and put ourselves together to win this game and move on to the next one against Benin in Abijdan,” he asserted.
“We’re pushing to qualify for the World Cup and I don’t think there’s so much pressure in the camp because as you can see the players are training very hard and just pushing.”
Playing at the World Cup is a lifelong dream for Nwabali, and having felt the power of AFCON, he is more determined than ever to help the Super Eagles reach the Mundial scheduled for the United States of America, Mexico and Canada in two years.
He said: “It’s going to be a great feeling for me [playing in the World Cup], also for my CV.
“To be honest, I really wish to play in the World Cup. I enjoyed the atmosphere at AFCON and I really want to taste the World Cup too.
“I’ve only watched the World Cup from a distance in past years and now I really want to be part of the team going to the World Cup.”
Okoye’s last game for the Super Eagles was over two years ago, when Nigeria lost to Tunisia in the AFCON round of 16 in Cameroon in February 2022.
The 24-year-old has rediscovered his form this year, excelling at Serie A club Udinese.
Nwabali sees only positives in Okoye’s presence in the Super Eagles set-up, insisting that he is not bothered by the rivalry.
“No, I’m not under pressure. I’ve watched some of Maduka’s games and he’s a very good goalkeeper to be honest,” he noted.
“He’s also my brother despite the fact that this is my first time working with him. His being in the team is going to motivate everyone, the other goalkeepers.
“If we have three good goalkeepers, you don’t have any problem. Maduka being part of the team is nice, welcome. He’s been doing well at his club this season and I’m happy to have him here.”
