Former Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is convinced that the emergence of Stanley Nwabali as Super Eagles number-one gloveman will sweep away talks that he cursed the national team, Soccernet.ng reports.
Enyeama is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in African football history, following his exploits for the Super Eagles, Enyimba International FC, Lille, and a couple of Tel Aviv-based clubs in Israel.
The retired shot-stopper won 101 caps for Nigeria and captained the Super Eagles to lift the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
However, Enyeama retired from international under a cloud of controversy following a disagreement with former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh.
For many years after Enyeama left the scene, the Super Eagles struggled to replace the former Maccabi Tel Aviv goalie.
With Maduka Okoye’s availability for the 2023 AFCON not guaranteed and Francis Uzoho not convincing with his performances, coach Jose Peseiro called up Chippa United goalkeeper for the tournament.
Despite not playing any competitive game for Nigeria before the AFCON, Nwabali impressed for the Super Eagles, helping the team reach the final.
Enyeama is pleased with Nwabali’s displays and is backing the 27-year-old star to keep up his good form for the national team.
In so doing, Enyeama hopes critics who believed he was the cause of the Eagles’ goalkeeping misfortune would have a change of opinion.
“I think Stanley (Nwabali) came in at the right time; for a long time, we have been clamouring for a goalkeeper,” Enyeama told Lagos Talks FM, as per Afrik-Foot.
“We didn’t readily have Okoye, and Uzoho had done well with the national team, but his form is unfortunate.
“I pray he continues in this good form and ends all the talks about me cursing the national team or casting a spell on the national team.
“I received a lot of nasty messages accusing me of all sorts, but thankfully, Stanley came in and helped change that narrative by breaking through the ranks.
“I didn’t curse the national team; if I had the power to do that, I could have currently changed the economic fortunes of Nigeria.”
Nwabali has been named in Nigeria’s 27-man squad to face Ghana and Mali in friendlies later this month.
However, the Chippa United goalie suffered an injury and was replaced during his side’s 2-0 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday.