Boluwatife Kehinde
As the battle for a World Cup ticket intensifies, calls are growing for Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye to replace Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali as Nigeria’s first-choice shot-stopper.
Nwabali’s position has come under scrutiny following a string of average performances for the Super Eagles, while Okoye’s recent form in Italy has reignited debate over who should start in goal.
Okoye,The Udinese goalkeeper, who recently returned from a two-month suspension for alleged involvement in a betting scandal, has been outstanding since his comeback. His latest impressive display came in Udinese’s 1–0 victory over Atalanta in a Serie A clash at the Bluenergy Stadium last weekend.
In contrast, Nwabali has faced growing criticism for his recent outings with the national team. The 29-year-old nearly received a red card in Nigeria’s 1–0 World Cup qualifying win over Rwanda after being booked for time-wasting and later committing a foul that went unnoticed due to the absence of VAR.
His struggles was evidently seen against Lesotho, where he conceded a late goal despite Nigeria leading 2–0. Tensions also flared during the 4–0 win against Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium when Nwabali clashed with teammate Calvin Bassey at halftime.
Following that match, former Nigeria defender Sam Sodje urged head coach Eric Chelle to consider replacing Nwabali if he believes the goalkeeper could jeopardize Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions.
“When you have players like Nwabali, the way he behaves on and off the pitch matters,” Sodje said.
“There’s a fine line between confidence and a bad attitude. If the coach feels he could cost us an important game, it’s better to act now before it’s too late. He’s shown signs that he might make a costly mistake soon — this is where a team psychologist becomes important.”
Nigeria will face Gabon in the first semi-final of the World Cup playoffs in Rabat, Morocco, on Thursday, November 13. The winner will meet either Cameroon or DR Congo for a place in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
