‘It is a blow for us’ - Chippa United manager claims he knows nothing about Nwabali’s exit

Last week, reports confirmed that the Super Eagles' number one had parted ways with Chippa United, ending his tenure with the South African side. 

The long-running saga concluded when Nwabali and Chippa United mutually agreed to terminate his contract, a decision made just weeks after his return from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Nwabali joined the club in 2022 and quickly established himself as one of the top goalkeepers on the continent, a reputation that earned him a spot on the Nigerian national team.

Speaking on the matter, Vilakazi confirmed that the negotiations were handled exclusively at the executive level, without his input.

"It is a blow [losing Nwabali] for us, looking at how Stanley did in Morocco. He’s a super keeper, but obviously with his decisions I’m not involved in that," Vilakazi stated in an interview with FarPost.

"So it was a discussion between him and the chairman, and they’ve agreed. I will only work with people who are in the system. If there is a need for us to look for a goalkeeper so that the competition can be high, we’ll do so."

Nwabali has not yet announced his next destination. Meanwhile, Chippa United now face the task of finding a suitable replacement for their departed star ahead of the upcoming fixtures.

His impressive form attracted interest from several prominent clubs, including Raja Casablanca, Orlando Pirates, and Kaizer Chiefs, alongside potential moves outside of Africa. Despite previous transfer talks falling through, speculation about his future persisted.