Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is racing against the clock to regain fitness ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, as a serious ankle and hand injury threatens his involvement.
The Chippa United goalkeeper is said to have worsened the injury during Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff in Morocco last month and has yet to feature for his club since. He has missed three consecutive league games, including important clashes with Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
Chippa United manager Vusumuzi Vilakazi expressed deep concerns about the timeline for Nwabali’s recovery, casting doubt on his availability for the tournament. “I doubt it; looking at the state of his injury, I don’t think he will make it,” Vilakazi remarked.
Still, he noted the player’s determination to return. “When I spoke to him, he was confident he would recover very soon. Obviously, as a player, he wants to be there,” he added.
Despite the manager’s pessimism, Nwabali was named in coach Eric Chelle’s preliminary 54-man squad and is considered a certainty for the final roster if he is medically cleared. His absence would be a major blow to Nigeria’s ambitions, as he has been the undisputed number one since his breakout performance at the 2023 AFCON finals in Cote d’Ivoire.
