Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is facing a wave of criticism across social media after his late error nearly cost Nigeria victory in their 2–1 win over Lesotho in Friday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The Chippa United shot-stopper, who rose to fame for his brilliant saves during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), was at the centre of attention once again — this time for the wrong reasons. In the 83rd minute, Nwabali mishandled a corner kick, allowing Hlompho Kalake to score for Lesotho, cutting Nigeria’s lead in half and sparking panic among fans both in the stadium and online.
Though the Super Eagles managed to hang on to the win, Nwabali’s display drew mixed reactions. Many described his performance as “careless,” “overconfident,” and “unfocused.”
On X (formerly Twitter), football journalist Adepoju Samuel (@OgaNlaMedia) wrote, “Nwabali is sick.
He needs urgent attention.”
Another user, @iSlimfit, commented, “Nwabali is very indecisive and arrogantly over-confident. He needs to get his head back in the game.”
Some analysts accused the goalkeeper of complacency, claiming he had become too comfortable since securing the No. 1 spot for Nigeria.
“Stanley Nwabali is getting too comfortable as the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper. Two costly mistakes today. He needs a competitor to keep him alert,” wrote @Iam_agt (Official AGT).
Even sports pundit Solace Chukwu (@TheOddSolace) weighed in with humour and frustration: “Nwabali’s display has taken years off the lifespan of a population that already has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world.”
The backlash continued on Instagram, where several fans called for the return of Maduka Okoye, saying Nwabali’s confidence had turned into arrogance. Others mocked him playfully, claiming “his village people are after him” — a Nigerian expression implying bad luck or spiritual interference.
However, not all fans joined the outrage. Some came to his defence, reminding critics that it was the same Nwabali who was hailed as a national hero just months ago at AFCON 2024, where his incredible saves carried Nigeria to the final.
“He’s human. Even the best goalkeepers from Neuer to Alisson make mistakes. We can’t forget what Nwabali did for Nigeria,” one fan wrote in his defence.
