Chippa United goalkeeper became one of the biggest revelations and outstanding players at the continent’s biggest football fiesta. Nwabali who displaced Francis Uzoho for the Super Eagles number one jersey kept four clean sheets in the tournament, with his penalty heroics against South Africa in the semi-final being one of the top performances by a player in the competition.
His two two penalty saves for Nigeria against the Bafana Bafana earned him a Man of the Match award.
The AFCON debutant earned a $57,000 in bonuses, which is entirely different from what he would receive as match allowances. Nwabali also pocketed $13,200 (about 20 million naira) from the Rivers State government, after Governor Sim Fubara honoured him.
Nwabali on his return to his hometown, Egbema in Rivers state, Nwabali visited the palace of the traditional ruler of his hometown where he was crowned by the Nzeobi of Egbema, as the “Ugoh Egbema 1 Of Onelga.” The Super Eagles goalkeeper was accompanied on his visit by his former club chairman, Felix Obuah. Nwabali started his football career at Felix Obuah’s club, Go Round FC.
In total the Super Eagles star got a physical cash of $70,200 (which approximates to N112,400,028 million Naira).