Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali produced a confident performance to help his side secure a 0–0 draw with Magesi FC in a South African Premier Soccer League (PSL) encounter at the Buffalo City Stadium on Tuesday night.

The result marked Vusumuzi Vilakazi’s first point as head coach following a disappointing 3–0 defeat to AmaZulu in his debut match. Despite the draw, the Chilli Boys remain at the bottom of the DStv Premiership table after 12 matches.

Facing growing criticism from some Nigerian fans, Nwabali responded in style, recording his first league clean sheet since September. The Super Eagles goalkeeper was composed throughout the game, finishing with a 6.8 rating, two saves, and a 65 percent pass completion rate from 40 attempted passes. He also made 13 throws and one key sweeping action as Chippa managed to keep Magesi at bay.

Although both teams struggled to create clear scoring chances, Nwabali ensured Chippa left with a valuable point, preventing 0.05 expected goals on target (xGOT).

The 29-year-old has now kept three clean sheets in 11 league outings, conceding 16 goals this season for a Chippa side still searching for their first win since early October.

Nwabali’s performance comes amid a growing debate over Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, following Maduka Okoye’s recent clean sheet for Udinese in Serie A against Atalanta.

Despite the pressure, Nwabali’s assured display served as a strong response to his critics, reinforcing his reliability as Chippa United continue their battle to climb out of the relegation zone.