Nwabali reveals how he saved Salah, Marmoush penalties for Nigeria's AFCON bronze

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has explained how he stopped penalties from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush during Nigeria's 4-2 shootout win over Egypt in the AFCON 2025 third-place playoff on Saturday night. The Chippa United captain, who earned Man of the Match, said he didn't study penalty videos but used his knowledge from watching the players' club performances to anticipate their strikes. "I watch them play for their clubs," Nwabali said. "Saving Salah's penalty was a personal goal for me. It gave me a big boost and really helped."

The 29-year-old's heroics sealed Nigeria's third-place finish in the tournament. He kept four clean sheets overall and conceded only four goals across the entire competition, with none in the knockout rounds. His performance adds value to his growing profile as one of Africa's emerging goalkeeping talents.

With this AFCON campaign now behind him, Nwabali's stock has risen significantly on the continental stage. His penalty-saving prowess against world-class talent like Salah demonstrates the tactical maturity that could attract bigger club opportunities. The question now is whether his AFCON performance will translate to a major European move or solidify his role as Nigeria's first-choice keeper heading into the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/18/afcon-2025-why-i-saved-mohamed-salah-marmoush-penalties-nwabali/