A Difficult Decision for Eric Chelle
With Maduka Okoye unavailable, Nigeria’s goalkeeping options are limited. Amas Obasogie’s debut failed to inspire confidence, while Francis Uzoho is not a popular choice among many fans.
That reality leaves Eric Chelle facing a difficult decision. If Nwabali’s injuries are indeed affecting his performances, the Super Eagles could find themselves in serious trouble should his condition worsen.
After making his name during AFCON 2023, the 6’5” goalkeeper has started all but one of Nigeria’s matches since then. Whether he retains the number-one shirt for the remainder of AFCON 2025 remains uncertain.
Stanley Nwabali Under the Spotlight
Much of the post-match discussion has centred on Stanley Bobo Nwabali, whose recent performances have come under increasing scrutiny.
While not all the goals Nigeria have conceded can be laid squarely at his feet, many of them, critics argue, could have been avoided. Recent goals against Nigeria have stemmed from:
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Bright Osayi’s deflection against Gabon
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Wilfred Ndidi’s error against DR Congo
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Uncleared crosses versus Egypt and Tanzania
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Two set-piece goals conceded against Tunisia
Over Nigeria’s last four matches, several of the goals conceded have seen Nwabali rooted to the spot, with minimal movement toward the ball.
Against Tunisia, his struggles were again evident. After conceding twice, the Chippa United goalkeeper attempted to claim multiple crosses but failed to gather them cleanly, despite his towering aerial presence.
Repeated spills caused panic inside the Nigerian box and placed additional pressure on the defence.
Notably, the opening goal by Talbi appeared savable, with suggestions that it could have been parried away.
A Flying Start: Nigeria’s Best Football in Years
Nigeria raced into a commanding 3–0 lead thanks to goals from Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman, overwhelming Tunisia with pace, pressing and precision.
The Super Eagles dominated possession, won second balls with ease and carved open Tunisia’s defense repeatedly.
At that point, the contest appeared settled, and a statement victory seemed inevitable.
Late Collapse: Tunisia Fight Back
However, the complexion of the match changed dramatically in the closing stages.
Tunisia clawed their way back into the contest when Montassar Talbi headed home in the 74th minute, before Ali Abdi converted a penalty to make it 3–2, injecting tension into the closing moments.
Though Nigeria held on for the win, the late wobble marred what could have been a complete performance and exposed lingering issues at the back.
The result also means the Super Eagles are now without a clean sheet in their last five games, a statistic that continues to fuel debate over their defensive setup heading into the knockout stages.
