Nigeria’s build-up to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has suffered a major blow after first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was all but ruled out of the tournament through injury.
The development has deepened concerns within a Super Eagles squad already shaken by fitness problems and a rapidly changing defensive set-up.
Stanley Nwabali, 29, emerged as one of Nigeria’s standout performers at the last AFCON, guiding the team to the final and earning widespread praise for his calm presence in goal.
He has not played since Nigeria’s dramatic penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in Rabat during the World Cup qualifying playoffs.
Doubts about his recovery intensified after his club coach at Chippa United, Vusimuzi Vilakazi, gave the strongest indication yet that the goalkeeper may miss the competition.
He said: “I don’t think he will make it, but when I was talking to him, he was confident that he would recover very soon, but obviously you will understand because he’s a player who wants to be there at the Cup of Nations finals. But the reality is that for now, he is still injured. I also hope for the best that he might find himself there.”
Vilakazi explained that Nwabali requires surgery and has been carrying multiple injuries. According to him, the keeper is dealing with “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.”
Naija News reports that head coach Eric Chelle named Nwabali in a provisional squad, but has yet to finalise his list of 27 players. Nigeria open their Group C campaign against Tanzania in Fes, before meeting Tunisia and Uganda in what is expected to be a fiercely competitive group.
The squad has already lost important figures. Young defenders Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu are ruled out, while Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi remain serious doubts. Captain William Troost-Ekong, MVP of the last AFCON, has retired after 83 caps, removing an experienced organiser from the heart of the defence.
With two centre-backs sidelined and the first-choice goalkeeper injured, Chelle may be forced to rebuild the defensive spine just days before kick-off.
If Nwabali is unable to recover, the coach has five goalkeepers to consider: Amas Obasogie, Maduka Okoye, Adebayo Adeleye, Francis Uzoho and teenager Ebenezer Harcourt.
Okoye and Uzoho have international experience, although both have struggled for consistency, while Obasogie, Adeleye and Harcourt are yet to appear in a major tournament.
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