Nigerian goalkeeper has revealed that he was not phased going into the shootout against South Africa in the semi finals of the last AFCON. The goalkeeper saved two penalties in that shootout to qualify Nigeria for the final of the tournament.
The 27 year old shotstopper said he saw videos and comments of people before the game about avoiding penalty shootout in that game due to the antecedent of South African goalie, Ronwen Williams. He mentioned that people are only wary of what they know and they don’t worry about what don’t know.
He also highlighted his stellar penalty save ratio just after his move to Chippa United, and he mentioned that his teammates and his club had faith in him before that shootout.
Nwabali said:
“Before the shootout, i was seeing videos of people talking about avoiding penalties with South Africa. Talking high of the goalkeeper. When you see something, you’ll be scared of what you know and what you don’t know. Most people just know I’m a footballer, they don’t know me”.
“I said to myself before the shootout, it’s over for you guys (South Africa). Only my teammates believed me and my club here in South Africa”.
“When i first got to South Africa, the first seven penalties i faced here, i saved five of them. But people only knew about South African goalie who saved 4 penalties before that game.
Even when journalists came to the training sessions, i didn’t save penalties because i didn’t want to show myself”.
