Ikpeba Urges Goalie Competition for Nwabali, Cites AFCON Record

Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Ikpeba has called for increased competition in the Super Eagles’ goalkeeping department, saying Nigeria should have “two great goalkeepers” vying for the national team’s No. 1 spot. Ikpeba spoke positively about Stanley Nwabali, who has been Nigeria’s first choice in recent matches, but stressed the need for internal rivalry to maintain high standards.

Nwabali, the Chippa United shot-stopper, started 13 of the last 14 Super Eagles matches, including Nigeria’s successful AFCON 2025 campaign in Morocco where he played a crucial role in the team’s third-place finish. Meanwhile, other keepers such as Udinese’s Maduka Okoye, Omonia Nicossia’s Francis Uzoho and Singida Black Stars’ Amas Obasogie have featured as backups in recent squads. Additionally, Arsenal youth product Arthur Okonkwo recently switched allegiance from England to Nigeria, further increasing competition in the position.

Speaking on SuperSport’s Monday Night Football, Ikpeba cited past Super Eagles goalkeeping duos like Emmanuel Okala and Best Ogedengbe as examples of how healthy competition pushed standards higher. He said having multiple quality options would keep everyone “on their toes”. Ikpeba also highlighted Nigeria’s proud AFCON history — including three titles, five final appearances and nine third-place finishes as evidence of the team’s impact on the continent.

EDITORIAL

In football, no position carries more psychological weight than that of the goalkeeper. It is a role devoid of glamour yet pivotal to a team’s identity solitary, unforgiving and often decisive. Victor Ikpeba’s recent remarks about “needing two great goalkeepers” for the Super Eagles are more than a nod to depth they are a philosophical assertion about the nature of excellence itself.

Stanley Nwabali’s elevation to Nigeria’s number one has been rewarding for fans and analysts alike. In a tournament where margins were slim and pressure immense, he stood resolute producing clean sheets and penalty saves that helped secure bronze at AFCON 2025. Yet Ikpeba’s insistence on competition is rooted in historical wisdom. Great teams rarely rest on laurels. They cultivate rivalry within ranks, ensuring complacency never takes root and performance remains sharp. Nigeria’s goalkeeping legacy from Emmanuel Okala to Vincent Enyeama to Nwabali himself has thrived on this very ecosystem of challenge and excellence.

This call for competition is not a rebuke of current form but an investment in future sustainability. The emergence of talents like Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, Amas Obasogie and now Arthur Okonkwo suggests the talent pool is deepening. Nigeria’s goalkeepers, once a source of uncertainty, are now a beacon of strategic depth a testament to improved structures and scouting across continents.

Ikpeba’s message is clear in the modern game, greatness is not inherited it is contested. And the only way the Super Eagles can ensure Nwabali’s brilliance is sustained and eventually surpassed is by embracing competition, not resisting it.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Stanley Nwabali kept four consecutive clean sheets during AFCON 2025, a rare achievement for a Super Eagles goalkeeper at a continental tournament.
2. Nigeria’s third-place bronze at AFCON 2025 was the country’s ninth in competition history, extending its record for podium finishes.
3. Arthur Okonkwo switched international allegiance to Nigeria from England, adding to the pool of goalkeeping options.
4. Prior Super Eagles goalkeeping duos like Emmanuel Okala and Best Ogedengbe were celebrated for pushing each other’s standards, a tradition Ikpeba wants revived.
5. Nwabali saved two penalties in the AFCON 2025 bronze medal shootout against Egypt, including one from Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.