Victor Ikpeba, the former Nigeria international, has come out firmly in support of Stanley Nwabali as the Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper — ahead of Maduka Okoye — following Nigeria's 2-1 victory over Madagascar in their opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo.

Speaking to SuperSports in the aftermath of the match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Ikpeba argued that Nwabali's composure, authoritative presence at the back, and performances in high-stakes fixtures have given him a clear advantage in the race for the number one jersey.

Nwabali's command wins the argument

The Chippa United goalkeeper did concede an early goal after Madagascar bypassed the offside trap, yet Ikpeba believes that moment did little to diminish Nwabali's overall standing. His game management and leadership throughout the qualifier left a strong impression on the former forward.

Ikpeba stressed that squad depth matters, but that Nwabali has consistently made the most of his international appearances to pull ahead of the competition in the pecking order.