‘I try to be a strong guy, but most times, I want to quit’ - Nwabali opens up on struggle after parents' death

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has revealed the profound personal struggle that nearly led him to abandon his football career following the deaths of both his parents.

The 29-year-old shot-stopper, who became a continental star after his heroics at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has been grappling with immense grief. 

His father passed away in November 2024, shortly after Nigeria's 1-1 draw with Benin in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. 

Upon receiving the tragic news, tragedy struck again just weeks later when his mother passed away on January 1, 2025, leaving the goalkeeper heartbroken.

Nwabali speaks on losing parents

While Nwabali's performances on the pitch have been impacted since the double tragedy, he has now spoken publicly for the first time about the emotional toll it has taken on him.

"I don't want to talk about my parents because in a few hours, it'll be exactly a year since I lost my mum," Nwabali told ACL Sports. 

"You know, I try to keep a lot of things to myself. I tried to move on, tried to be a strong guy, but most times, I want to quit."

He continued, explaining the unique pain of losing both parents in such a short period. "I mean, I lost my mum and my dad, but my mum was so dear to me, and it's so painful to talk about it, but I feel like it hurts," he said. 

"It's not a nice feeling for a footballer, or even a human in general, to lose both parents at the same time. My dad was a month before my mum, and I'm here playing football."

Nwabali also revealed that he had confided in his national team captain, William Troost-Ekong, about his desire to leave the game. He credited his teammates for providing the support he needed to persevere.

"Some people move on, some don't, but I tried to talk to my captain, William Troost-Ekong, that I want to leave football," Nwabali admitted. "With the help of my teammates, I've been able to keep going, but it hurts a lot."