‘The Pride of Egbema Kingdom’-Super Eagles Goalkeeper, Nwabali Bags Chieftaincy Title In Rivers State

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali has been honoured with a chieftaincy title by the traditional ruler of his hometown, Egbema Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Nzeobi Evaritus Amida.

Nwabali was honoured with one of the biggest Chieftaincy titles in his hometown following his impressive performance for the Super Eagles at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

The Royal Father said Nwabali was honoured with “The Pride of Egbema Kingdom” for bringing honour to the Egbema Kingdom.

The Chippa United ended Nigeria’s search for a reliable goalkeeper with series of match-winning saves in the competition to help the Super Eagles to a silver medal finish in the tournament.

Nwabali has enjoyed numerous honours since the end of the competition. He was also bestowed with a honour of Distinguished Service Star of River State with N20m by the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara praised Nwabali for his efforts in the competition.

Fubara said, “I want to join the great and wonderful people of Rivers State to congratulate you, our brother Stanley Nwabali and our wonderful team.

“We are here again in just about four months after you won a local trophy.

“Today, you have brought a national trophy. So, when people say or talk behind us to ask what we are doing, we are achieving those things that are not, maybe, seeing physically but they give joy and fulfilment.

“If we have not encouraged you in a way that motivated you, you won’t be where you are. So, it is part of purposeful governance and administrative efficiency.”

The 27-year-old shot-stopper set a new national goalkeeping record of most minutes without conceding a goal for Nigeria in the competition.

Nwabali went 493 minutes across six games without conceding a goal in the Nations Cup to hold the record for the longest clean sheets among Nigerian goalkeepers in the competition’s history.

He recorded clean sheets against Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Cameroon and Angola and up until the 90th minute against South Africa before he was beaten from the spot by South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena.

Nwabali was Nigeria’s hero in the penalty shootout win over South Africa, saving two penalty kicks to help the Super Eagles to a 4-2 victory.