Apart from the victory itself, the biggest news from Nigeria’s football space since knocking out five time winners Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions is Stanley Nwabali’s injury.
His fitness has been the real news ahead of the game against Angola, it’s even becoming an unnecessary distraction from the major task, which is getting to the next round at the expense of Angola’s Palancras Negras.
Nigerians have understandably been apprehensive, his replacement, Francis Odinaka Uzoho, is a big risk between the sticks against the Angolans, one wouldn’t forget the role he played in Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in a hurry.
Without doubts, the real situation is worrisome, despite Nwabali turning up in training like he’s ready to go.
Uzoho has a golden opportunity to clean his image if he’s listed in the first eleven tomorrow, he can also further compound his own woes, it’s his decision.
Taking three goalkeepers to a tournament of this magnitude means either of them could be called upon to man the post, so it’s sincerely better to get Uzoho in proper shape and take responsibility tomorrow, while Nwabali continues his recovery and make a return in the Semi Final.
If the Chippa United shot stopper is rushed to action and he picks up another injury, that may ultimately rule him out of the tournament, and also spell doom for Nigeria’s chances of winning a 4th African crown in Cote D’Ivoire.
