Super Eagles goalie, Stanley Nwabali described Nigeria’s 4-0 demolition of Mozambique as a night that felt more like a holiday than a high-stakes Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), after the Super Eagles cruised to a win and he walked away with his first clean sheet of the tournament.
The goalkeeper barely broke sweat as the Super Eagles turned on the style, overwhelming Mozambique with pace, control and ruthless finishing. For long spells, Nwabali was a spectator, watching his teammates dictate proceedings and turn the match into a comfortable evening under the lights.
Speaking to reporters after the game, the goalkeeper could not hide his delight, stressing that the ease of the win reflected the unity and discipline within the squad.
“First I want to say kudos to these guys from the coach, the players. I want to talk about myself first. But I’m saying kudos to these guys. They are one family, trying to fight like this, winning with a clean sheet,” he said.
The relaxed nature of the contest was a sharp contrast to the tension that often defines knockout-stage football. Nwabali admitted that he was rarely called into action, likening the experience to a well-earned break.
“It’s nice to be on holiday. You know, I didn’t celebrate December, and now I’m celebrating my own December here. It’s nice,” Stanley Nwabali told reporters after the game.
Beyond the light-hearted mood, the clean sheet carried a deeper meaning for the goalkeeper. Nwabali has built a reputation for reliability at the AFCON, having set a national record at the 2023 edition by going 493 minutes without conceding a goal, surpassing the long-standing mark set by former Nigeria international Ike Shorunmu.
He believes the growing sense of calm within the team is a sign of progress as the tournament unfolds.
“I feel like it’s a lot of improvement in the team. I feel like there is a lot of improvement, because this is where you talk about experience in the tournament,” Nwabali said.
The goalkeeper also pointed out that patience is key in a competition of this nature.
“A tournament is not something you rush; once it’s something you go to every day. Now we play the first game, the second game, and the third game, we concede. Now we keep a clean sheet for you,” he noted.
With the quarter-finals set for Marrakesh on Saturday, Nigeria will hope the holiday mood does not fade, as the Super Eagles look forward to playing either Algeria or DR Congo next.
