Peseiro delays decision on Stanley Nwabali until after today's final training session

SUPER Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro will wait until later this evening before making a final decision on goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali saying the shot-stopper will undergo one last observation after training today to decide if he is fir for tomorrow's quarter final.

Nwabali, 27, has been one of the revelations of the tournament, letting in just one goal in four matches but in the last game against Cameroon, he was stretchered off in the 80th minute. After being clattered into, Nwabali fell awkwardly, damaging his knee and subsequent tests carried out by the Super Eagles medical team confirmed that he suffered a mild ligament injury.

Now, the darling of Nigerian football fans, Nwabali, who plies his trade with Chippa United in South Africa, has already attracted the attention of several European clubs with his heroics. Super Eagles fans have been playing for him to recover ahead of tomorrow's quarter final against the Black Panthers of Angola.

However, Mr Peseiro is playing things by the book, insisting on making sure the goalkeeper is fully fit before deciding to field him. If Nwabali is not fully fit, Francis Uzoho, who came on for him in the Cameroon game will most likely take to the pitch against Angola, with the third goalkeeper in camp Olorunleke Ojo, deputising for him.

Apparently, yesterday, Nwabali has given the green light by the medical team to face Angola but Mr Peseiro will observe his players one more time today before making a final decision on the 11players to start tomorrow. Rushing Nwabali back if he is not fully fit risks aggravating his injury and ruling him out for the rest of the tournament.

Mr Peseiro said: "Today we are going to take a final decision. He's going to do the last test but if he cannot play, I play with Francis. I have confidence in both of them and Ojo also."

Statistically, Nwabali is the best goalkeeper at the ongoing African Cup of Nations as he has posted three consecutive clean sheets, has a clean sheet percentage of 75% and has only conceded 0.26 goals per 90. Mrs Peseiro stated that Nwabali will be in goal tomorrow provided that he comes through today's final workout unscathed.