Chippa United and Super Eagles number 1 goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, is a big doubt for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, as revealed by his club coach, Vusimuzi Vilakazi, www.aclsports.com reports.
Nwabali, 29, has not been in goal for his South African side since Nigeria’s defeat to DR Congo on penalties in the final of the CAF 20226 World Cup Continental playoff in Morocco.
Having missed recent league games against Orlando Pirates, Siwelele FC, and Kaizer Chiefs, his club head coach has now confirmed his fitness struggles.
“I doubt it, looking at the state of his injury,” Vilakazi told supersport.com.
“I don’t think he will make it, but when I was talking to him, he was confident that he will recover very soon, but obviously you will understand because he’s a player he wants to be there at the Cup of Nations finals. But the reality is saying for now he is still injured. I also hope for the best that he might find himself there.
“It’s an ankle injury, but then also the hand needs an operation because he’s been playing with that (injured) hand for a while now, and he aggravated the injury while he was in Morocco,” Vilakazi concluded.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle named Nwabali in his provisional squad, but it remains to be seen whether he will be named in the final squad list. Nwabali joins the likes of Benjamin Fredrick and Ola Aina, who have been injured in recent weeks in the Super Eagles squad.
The former Enyimba goalkeeper, who was the first choice for Nigeria as they reached the final of the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, could lose his place to Maduka Okoye if he fails to recover in time before the tournament gets underway.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are placed in Group C, where they take on Tanzania in their opening game in Fes on 23 December.
