){kind=small}
Bundesl){kind=logo}
M05
){kind=logo}
HSV
){kind=small}
Serie A){kind=logo}
SAS
){kind=small}
VER
){kind=small}
Ligue 1){kind=small}
B29
){kind=small}
OM
){kind=small}
LaLiga){kind=small}
ATH
){kind=logo}
ELC
){kind=small}
RSO
){kind=logo}
OVI
){kind=logo}
JUV
){kind=small}
COMO
){kind=logo}
KOE
){kind=logo}
TSG
){kind=small}
FCB
){kind=logo}
SGE
){kind=logo}
FCU
){kind=logo}
B04
){kind=logo}
WOB
){kind=logo}
FCA
){kind=small}
Premier){kind=small}
AVL
){kind=logo}
LEE
){kind=small}
BRE
){kind=logo}
BHA
){kind=logo}
CHE
){kind=small}
BUR
){kind=small}
NPFL){kind=logo}
WWF
){kind=logo}
BET
){kind=small}
RAY
){kind=logo}
LENS
){kind=small}
ASM
){kind=logo}
LEC
){kind=small}
INT
){kind=small}
RBL
){kind=small}
BVB
){kind=small}
WHU
){kind=small}
BOU
){kind=small}
OSA
){kind=logo}
RMA
AFCON 2025
)
Eric Chelle has a major decision to make, as Stanley Nwabali is now a doubt for AFCON.
The Super Eagles have suffered another major injury blow ahead of the AFCON, as first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali’s participation is now in doubt following recent comments from Chippa United's head coach.
The 28-year-old was a stalwart between the sticks at the last AFCON. However, perceptions around his reliability have steadily declined since the tournament. His absence from AFCON would be a significant blow, as possible replacements are not without their faults.
Nwabali is injured
According to Chippa’s head coach, Vusumuzi Vilakazi, the former Enyimba goalkeeper has an injury to his hand and ankle, exacerbated during the last international break.
Nwabali last played for Chippa against Magesi, just before the international break. Since the World Cup qualifier Playoffs, he has been out injured and missed matches against Orlando Pirates, Siwelele and Kaizer Chiefs.
Vilakazi’s recent comments reveal that Nwabali is still in recovery, and that he expects the shot-stopper to miss the AFCON in its entirety despite having been named in Eric Chelle's 54-man preliminary list.
)
“I don't think he will make it,” he said, per Super Sport. “But when I was talking to him, he was confident that he will recover very soon.”
Possible replacements
Maduka Okoye is the most likely candidate to replace Nwabali between the sticks. The Udinese man had a short stint as first-choice goalie before a blunder against Tunisia in AFCON 2021 saw him relegated to the back burner.
Okoye recently returned from a betting-related ban and is slowly returning to form in the Serie A. Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars), Adebayo Adeleye (Volos FC), Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC) and Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos) were the other names in the Preliminary list.