'What's Onana doing there' - Nigerians blast CAF for snubbing Super Eagles goalkeeper Nwabali

Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been surprisingly excluded from the final three-man shortlist for the 2024 CAF Goalkeeper of the Year Award.

Nwabali's impressive performances for both club and country, particularly during the Africa Cup of Nations, made him a strong contender for the prestigious award.

The Chippa United shot-stopper was heroic for Nigeria in the semi-final against South Africa, saving twice during the penalty shootout to help the Super Eagles into the final.

However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has deemed Nwabali's performance not good enough, opting for other goalkeepers, including Andre Onana, Ronwen Williams, and Yahia Fofana.

CAF will hold its annual football awards on Monday, December 16 where the winner will be revealed at a gala ceremony.

Nwabali made his mark at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, achieving four clean sheets in seven matches and saving two penalty kicks in the semi-final shootout victory over South Africa.

He was also part of the Super Eagles squad that qualified for the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Nigerian football fans have expressed their disappointment after Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was surprisingly excluded from the CAF Team of the Year.

Many fans took to social media to voice their discontent, questioning the selection criteria and the rationale behind the decision.

Here are some of their reactions: