Former Nigerian defender Sam Elijah has called on head coach Eric Chelle to maintain Stanley Nwabali as the starting goalkeeper for Tuesday’s crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier against South Africa.
Despite criticisms following Nwabali’s performance in Nigeria’s narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda, where he avoided a red card after a heated incident, Elijah emphasised that judging a player on one game is unfair. He told allnigeriasoccer.com, “He can’t be judged by just a match and I think he should continue. He is a great goalkeeper, he has great confidence.”
Elijah highlighted the importance of continuity and confidence, especially ahead of such a high-stakes encounter.
However, he expressed concerns about Nigeria’s overall display against Rwanda and urged Chelle to enforce tactical discipline and sharpen the team’s attitude. “Against South Africa, we cannot afford to play the way we played with Rwanda… The tactical discipline of the team must come to play against South Africa,” he said.
Stressing the tight competition with South Africa, Elijah warned against complacency. “This is a must-win match. The players must show determination, discipline, and hunger. They should be under pressure to win and must show character,” he added.
