Nwabali Under Fire After Super Eagles’ Narrow Win Against Lesotho — Fans Compare Him to Onana
The Super Eagles’ 2–1 victory over Lesotho in Friday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier was overshadowed by heated criticism of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, with many Nigerian fans taking to social media to express disappointment in his performance.
Despite goals from William Troost-Ekong and Akor Adams securing the much-needed win, several supporters were left frustrated by what they described as “schoolboy errors” and “casual goalkeeping” from the Chippa United shot-stopper.
Nigeria’s win puts them in a favorable position ahead of their next qualifier against Benin Republic in Uyo on Tuesday, but the mood among fans online was far from celebratory.
On X (formerly Twitter), user @middlechighld wrote:
“Nwabali is no different from Onana. His goalkeeping decisions are almost comical.”
Another fan, @jaustinuche, echoed the sentiment:
“Nwabali needs to be benched. His performance was absolutely horrendous.”
Others, like @Fazlurfarah, tried to stay optimistic despite the nervy performance:
“After all the wobbling and fumbling of this team and the stupidity of @thenff, this is still a good result. I believe Nigeria will still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Some supporters went as far as suggesting that Nwabali should not start in Nigeria’s next game. @muawiya_sarina simply stated, “Nwabali should not start our next game, please.”
Meanwhile, a number of fans compared Nwabali’s recent form to that of Manchester United’s Andre Onana, who has also faced heavy criticism for high-profile mistakes at club level. Others accused Nwabali of being “too casual” and “overconfident,” with some implying that his performance bordered on unprofessional.
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Forum users on Nairaland joined the conversation. One poster, robosky02, remarked:
“Nwabali is becoming too casual with his national assignment. Imagine the last goal error — what if it was a goal?”
Another user, dominique, wrote:
“Onana is doing well in his new club. Nwabali needs to step up his game; he’s making too many costly errors.”
While a few called for patience, others questioned his loyalty, suggesting that playing in the South African league might be influencing his focus. A commenter alleged:
“That goalkeeper was paid to cost the Eagles the match. He plays in South Africa after all.”
However, not everyone agreed with the harsh criticism. GanagiBitrus offered a more balanced view:
“Nwabali made schoolboy errors & was not at his best. But most of our players have also not been at their best. The big decision for the coach is whether to risk another goalkeeper against Benin.”
Some fans shifted attention away from the goalkeeper, blaming the entire team for a lackluster showing. @ybalogs wrote:
“It’s not just Nwabali. We are lacking in all departments. Even Osimhen in our colors is average at best.”
Despite the negativity, a handful of supporters remained supportive of the team, emphasizing the importance of unity before their next crucial match. One optimistic fan posted:
“We are still at a big advantage. Let’s win Benin by one or two goals and stay focused.”
For now, coach Finidi George faces a crucial decision: whether to keep faith in Nwabali or hand the gloves to another goalkeeper when the Super Eagles host Benin Republic.
Whatever the choice, it’s clear that Nwabali’s place in the squad — and the confidence of Nigerian fans — hangs in the balance.