AFCON 2023 tournament has been a revelation with distinct actions and drama at the on going tournament in Cote d’Ivoire and one stat that catches the eye is the race for the golden glove.
Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali on Friday broke a 44-year record for Super Eagles goalkeepers amid the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This was possible after Nwabali secured four consecutive clean sheets in a major tournament (AFCON).
The Chippa United goalkeeper has surpassed Best Ogedegbe’s 1980 record and Alloy Agu’s 1990 3-game streak for Super Eagles after keeping a clean sheet against Angola at the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.
He helped Jose Peseiro’s men to qualify for the semi-final of the AFCON after Nigeria defeated Angola 1-0 in the quarter-final, thanks to Ademola Lookman’s goal.
Prior to the Angola game, Nwabali had kept clean sheets against Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and now Angola.
He has played five games and conceded only one goal against Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile South Africa’s Ronwen Williams will undoubtedly be a contender for the Best Goalkeeper award once the tournament is over, and his fingertip save as he sprung into the air to keep out Benchimol’s effort by the slightest of margins was a remarkable reflex stop.
He remarkably made 4 saves in the penalty shootout against Cape to send Bafana Bafana through.
South Africa will now have the chance to avenge their defeat by Nigeria on their last appearance in the Afcon semi-finals, when they were beaten 2-0 by the Super Eagles in 2000.
