Nwabali and Okoye brace for stricter penalty rules as IFAB targets time-wasting

Super Eagles goalkeepers, Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye, may soon need to adjust their game as the International Football Association Board (IFAB) considers stricter measures to curb time-wasting in football, Soccernet.ng reports.

According to The Times Sport, IFAB is exploring a countdown rule to enforce quicker ball releases by goalkeepers. Under the proposed system, referees would signal with a raised hand to start a countdown timer.

Goalkeepers failing to release the ball within the designated time frame could see their teams penalised with a corner awarded to the opposition.

This potential rule change is designed to address the long-standing issue of goalkeepers holding onto the ball for extended periods, often disrupting the flow of play.

Although FIFA’s current regulations already impose a six-second limit for ball possession by goalkeepers, inconsistent enforcement has led IFAB to consider more definitive measures.

For Nwabali who recently made similar act during Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers away clash against Rwanda in Kigali and other goalkeepers, adapting to the proposed rule could require refining their distribution techniques to avoid costly penalties.

Although this is the latest report and has not yet been approved, IFAB is expected to make a final decision on the proposal in the coming months.