Relegation-threatened Spanish club, Cadiz, have likened their in-form goalkeeper Jeremías Ledesma to Super Eagles shot stopper Stanley Nwabali following the Argentine’s impressive performance against Atletico Madrid on match-day 28 of the LaLiga 2023/24 season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Conan, as Ledesma is fondly called, put up a fine display to keep Alvaro Morata and co at bay as the struggling Cadiz picked up a valuable win over the Rojiblancos in front of their 15,917 fans at the Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on Saturday.
During the encounter, Ledesma made four important saves to help the Yellow Submarines claim their third league win of the season, their first since September 1, 2023, when they defeated Villarreal 3-1 on match-day 4.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s side have gone 23 games without a win, losing 12 games and drawing 11.
According to the club, the 31-year-old’s clean sheet performance against Atletico Madrid was inspired by Super Eagles goalkeeper, Nwabali, who shone at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
“He (Ledesma) learned from Nwabali in his beast mode at the AFCON,” the club wrote on X with pictures of both goalkeepers.
The Chippa United shot-stopper became fans favourite following his fine performance at the AFCON, where his double penalty saves helped Nigeria beat South Africa 4-2 on penalties in the semi-finals with Nwabali walking away with the Man of The Match award.
Though he started his career in the Nigeria Premier League playing for Go Round FC, Enyimba, Lobi Stars and Katsina United before signing for the South African side in 2022, Nwabali gained popularity when Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro invited him to the Eagles squad few weeks before the start of the AFCON.
The goalkeeper repaid the coach’s faith in him by producing a sterling performance at the tournament, keeping four clean sheets in seven matches during the AFCON tournament.
