Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali
is facing a race against time to regain full fitness ahead of the 2025
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, following concerns over
persistent ankle and hand injuries.
Multiple reports suggest the 29-year-old aggravated
the injuries during last month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff matches,
forcing him to the sidelines ever since. Nwabali has not featured for his club,
Chippa United, since returning from international duty.
Chippa United head coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi has
cast doubt over the shot-stopper’s availability for the continental tournament.
“I don’t think he will make it, but when I was talking
to him, he was confident that he will recover very soon,” Vilakazi told SuperSport,
reflecting optimism from the player but caution from the technical crew.
Nwabali’s potential absence would be a significant
setback for Nigeria, as the former Enyimba and Katsina United
goalkeeper was among the standout performers at the 2023 AFCON in Côte
d’Ivoire, where he firmly established himself as the Super Eagles’
undisputed number one.
With the tournament fast approaching, uncertainty
continues to surround his recovery timeline, leaving both club and country
anxiously monitoring his progress.
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