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By Amaechi Agbo

Despite becoming a hero at the ongoing Africaa Cup of Nations in Invory Coast where he has shone like a bright star in a cloudy night, Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali has received threatening message from South Africa fans asking him not to come back to the country.

Nwabali who plies his club football career with Chippa United in the South Africa League, won the Man of the Match MOTM award on Wednesday as Nigeria defeated South Africa 4-2 on penalties to reach the final of the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast. .

However, the South African fans, enraged by his spectacular saves during the match including two penalises in the shootout warned him against returning to his club after the AFCON.

Ex Super Eagles goalkeeper, Idah Peterside revealed the threats while speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, stating that some fans have warned Nwabali not to go back to Chippa United in South Africa after the AFCON tournament.

While the threat has not been reported, it’s believed that some South Africans are displeased with Nwabali’s role in preventing their team from reaching the final.

Peterside said, “The biggest problem we have had is that we have gotten some messages where people have sent messages to the goalkeeper threatening him. I hear some people are telling him not to come back to South Africa since you didn’t want us to score. We have not heard of any violence but just threats. They have been threatening him and threatening some people.”

Nwabali has kept four clean sheets out of six matches and is poised to clinch the Golden Glove award on Sunday when Nigeria tackles Ivory Cost in the final with kick-off slated for 9pm Nigeria time.

Over 120 Nigerians have been killed in different xenophobic attacks in South Africa in recent years