Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has delivered a cheeky and pointed response to Morocco's defeat in the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Nigerian shot-stopper took to social media to express his feelings after the Atlas Lions lost 1-0 to Senegal in a dramatic and controversial final hosted in Rabat.
The Dramatic AFCON 2025 Final
The championship match, held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, was a tense affair that extended into extra time. The decisive moment came when Pape Gueye scored the only goal, securing Senegal's second AFCON title and extending Morocco's wait for continental glory to half a century.
The final was not without major controversy. The match was temporarily halted when Senegal's players walked off the pitch in protest after the referee awarded Morocco a last-minute penalty. The intervention of Senegalese star Sadio Mane helped calm the situation and bring the team back. Moroccan forward Brahim Diaz subsequently missed the spot-kick, and Senegal capitalized on the let-off to score the winner shortly after.
Nwabali's Cryptic Social Media Dig
Clearly remembering Nigeria's own painful exit from the tournament, Stanley Nwabali did not hide his satisfaction with the final result. The Super Eagles goalkeeper, whose team was controversially eliminated by Morocco in the semi-finals, posted a subtle yet cutting message on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
He shared a video of a person laughing hysterically, accompanied by the caption: "Make una use all my towel una carry wipe una tears ??" This remark was a direct reference to an incident during the semi-final clash between Nigeria and Morocco, where Moroccan fans reportedly stole Nwabali's towels and provoked an angry reaction from the goalkeeper.
Nigerian Fans Rally Behind Nwabali
The goalkeeper's post resonated deeply with Nigerian football supporters, who flooded the comments section with messages of support and shared amusement. Many fans felt the post was a justified response to the perceived poor officiating and unsporting behavior that contributed to the Super Eagles' semi-final loss.
One user, @uzochi_O, commented: "???...that semi final pain una gan. I'm loving the clap back. Very yeye people. They should cry me a river." Another supporter, @ollyblaze1, added: "I dey feel you my guyyy. Make they even use am dey bath for their village. They no get shame, Ojutiwon ???"
The sentiment was echoed by @marvelEl_Grande, who noted: "Omo, nobody happy reach Super Eagles players this period oo," highlighting the collective sense of vindication felt by the Nigerian camp.
Akor Adams Joins the Fray
Nwabali was not the only Nigerian player to comment on Morocco's misfortune. Super Eagles striker Akor Adams also shared a perfectly-timed cryptic post following Senegal's victory. The Sevilla forward, like many of his teammates, was seemingly taking a swipe at the manner of Nigeria's controversial defeat to the Moroccans in the last four.
The reactions from Nwabali and Adams underscore the lingering disappointment within the Nigerian squad regarding their AFCON 2025 exit. While Senegal celebrates a historic win, the posts from the Super Eagles stars have added a spicy postscript to a tournament filled with high drama and intense rivalry.
