- Safiu Kehinde
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has attributed Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 third-place finish to teamwork and defensive discipline after his penalty saves sealed victory over Egypt.
Nwabali made this known during a post-match conference after being named Man of the Match, on account of his two penalties saves that saw Nigeria edged past Egypt with 4–2 shootout win.
NPO Reported that the AFCON 2025 third-place play-off ended goalless in regulation time, before penalties decided the bronze medal.
Nwabali described the encounter as tense, with both teams determined to avoid costly errors.
“It was a very difficult match against a great Egyptian team; Nobody wanted to make a mistake,” he said.
The goalkeeper said that composure was key during the shootout.
“I stayed calm, read the takers and trusted my instincts; Thankfully, it worked for us,” he said.
He credited teamwork and defensive discipline for Nigeria’s success.
“This victory came from collective effort. The defenders were incredible, and everyone stayed united,” he noted.
Nwabali said that individual recognition was secondary to the team’s achievement.
“Being Man of the Match feels good, but winning the bronze medal for Nigeria matters more,” he said.
The goalkeeper praised the team’s resilience after earlier disappointment in the tournament.
“We had setbacks, but we stayed focused and believed in ourselves until the end,” Nwabali added.