Tag: Nwabali

Super Eagles and Chippa United goalkeeper, Stanley Bobo Nwabali, believes Nigeria will defeat South Africa in their upcoming World Cup qualifier, Soccernet. ng reports.

The 27-year-old became the Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper at the AFCON 2023 tournament, keeping four clean sheets in seven games whilst helping the three-time AFCON champions to a second-place finish in Ivory Coast.

A subject of a potential exit from Chippa United, Nwabali has replicated his AFCON form for his club side, saving spot kicks and keeping 11 clean sheets from 26 league games in the DsTV Premiership.

Read Also: Law professionals move to revitalise Nigerian justice system

“Football is the same everywhere but I don’t feel with the kind of players we have, we can have any challenge in any game, especially in our group, but you cannot predict football. I know the South Africans. We have good players in our country too so I’m not talking about those guys, they are good in their way of playing. I’m not talking about them because if we can put ourselves together, they cannot match us,” the Chippa United told Lagos Talks on 91.3 FM, in quotes revealed by African Football.

Nigeria will take on South Africa next week Friday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, with kick-off time slated for 8 pm. They will play against the Benin Republic three days later.

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has stated that he sees no reason to compete with the Maduka Okoye for a starting spot in the national team.

Nwabali got huge recognition during the 2023 AFCON tournament, despite it being his debut international competition.

The former Enugu Rangers player seized the chance to emerge as one of Nigeria’s top players during the competition, keeping four clean sheets and saving two penalties.

Read Also: Minister wants Team Nigeria to surpass Atlanta ’96 record Performance   at Paris 2024

Okoye returns to the Super Eagles squad after struggling with form for club and country which kept him out of the 2023 AFCON competition.

The Udinese star enjoyed an impressive season, keeping five clean sheets in 21 appearances for the Italian side.

The 24-year-old was called up to Finidi George’s team for the June 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin because of his recent performances.

After  a satisfactory season at the South Africa Premier League side Chippa United, Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is craving a fresh start at another club with bigger challenge. 

The former Katsina United goalkeeper became a toast of everyone following his decent performance for Nigeria at the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Since then, top Clubs in Europe have craved to have him on their payroll.

” Well, everyone would love to leave because when you are in some position, you need to grow,” the 27-year-old said in a presser.

Read Also: Finidi gets dossier on  Bafana  Bafana for Super Eagles 

 “Like everyone in my position, I would like to grow more. I’m talking about clubs higher than this [bigger than Chippa United] because I have been giving my all to my club this season. I just wish to have another challenge at some other place.

“To be honest, this season has been one of the best seasons of my football career inside Chippa and outside Chippa.

“This season, Chippa has been nice to me and being part of this family. We found ourselves ending the season better than the previous season. This season was one of the best seasons for me.

Chippa United co-head coach Thabo September has revealed that Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali will likely leave the club at the end of the season, Soccernet.ng reports.

At the last Africa Cup of Nations Cup (AFCON), the 27-year-old goalkeeper recorded four clean sheets in the competition and saved two penalties in the shoot-out against South Africa in the semifinals to help the Super Eagles clinch silver.

Nwabali also maintained a cool head in goal in most of the games, proving his status as a quality shot-stopper.

Read Also: Nwabali on radar of Saint-Gilloise QPR, Kaizer Chiefs

 “It’s not the right word to use, but of course I think there’s a high possibility of losing him. I don’t think it’s a fear [to lose him], that’s what the club is about,” September told SABC Sport.

Nwabali’s next move remains unknown, but a move to AL Ettifaq cannot be ruled out because he is close to the end of his career, and that move would guarantee him a bumper salary.

Hordes  of clubs including Union SG, Queens Park Rangers  and Kaizer Chiefs  are reportedly  targeting

Chippa United Stanley Nwabali  as the and Nigeria goalkeeper will be  a free agent at the end of this season.

Nwabali is in his second year with Chippa United as he joined the South African club in October 2022 after leaving Nigerian side Katsina United.

The last five months have been eventful for Nwabali after he was plucked from international wilderness to become the Super Eagles number-one goalkeeper.

Nwabali delivered a string of impressive results to power Nigeria to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper was narrowly beaten to the best keeper of the tournament award by South Africa’s goalie Ronwen Williams.

Read Also: Nwabali’s price tag scares away Kaizer Chiefs

Nwabali’s excellent showings raised a lot of interest, with Belgian Pro League giants Union Saint-Gilloise linked with a move for him.

Championship side Queens Park Rangers and South African club Kaizer Chiefs were also reportedly monitoring the former Lobi Star’s shot-stopper.

However, none of Nwabali’s admirers made a move for him as the AFCON did not end until mid-February when the winter transfer window had already been slammed shut.

Nwabali has previously claimed that he has received no offers from any local or foreign club as he returning to Chippa United to help the club advance to the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup.

It, however, appears that he is preparing himself for a potential move to Europe in the summer.

According to reports from South Africa’s Soccer Laduma, Nwabali will not sign an extension with Chippa United at the end of the season.

The price tag placed on Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali by his club Chippa United is continuing to scare away prospective clubs that are eager to lure the Nigerian away.

Nwabali   impressed in most of the games for  the Super Eagles  at the 2023 African Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire  which made top clubs making enquiries  about  possible transfers.

Chippa United reportedly slammed a whopping R30 million ( $1.5 million) on him and this has scared away clubs including Kaizer Chiefs who see Nwabali as solution  to their goalkeeping problems.

Read Also: Nwabali, Chukwueze counsel  NPFL Youth League players

The club yesterday afternoon announced that they might not be able to get the Nigerian International due to the price tag.

” It is no secret that Chiefs have been assessing options for a goalkeeper to potentially join the club next season. Stanley Nwabali is one of the players that the club has been monitoring.

They had hoped to lure him in the same way they did with Daniel Akpeyi a few seasons ago.”

 “But there seems to be a problem as Chippa are looking to cash in on the player (Nwabali). He did so well at AFCON. He is their prized asset.

The club is looking for around R30 million for him and at that value, not many clubs will be able to afford him,” the club said.

The proprietor of Go Round FC Bro. Felix Obuah said  he was  on cloud nine seeing  his former ward,

Super Eagles’ first choice goalkeeper  at the Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) 2023  in Cote d’Ivoire,  Stanley Bobo Nwabali,  being conferred with a chieftaincy title at his Egbema Kingdom home in  the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State .

The 27-year-old  Chippa United goalie was led to the ceremony  on Sunday Bro. Obuah as  he first paid a courtesy call to the ONELGA council headquarters where the Chairman, Sir Vincent Job announced a  cash gift  of N5m in addition to a street  being named after .

At the Nzeobi’s palace in Aggah-Egbema,  HRM Eze Everestus Amuda conferred the chieftaincy title ‘Ugo Egbema 1 of Egbema Land’ which means the Pride of Egbema on the Chippa United goalkeeper.

Amuda eulogised Nwabali for his performance especially his penalty saving heroics which he noted , engraved him in the hearts of many Nigerians both home and abroad.

“This is the dream of every father, that his son or daughter makes it to the top. When we started, I had the dream that one day if they put in their best, they will reach the zenith of their careers,” Bro Obuah said.

Read Also: Be patient, Tinubu’s policies yielding results, Bagudu begs Nigerians

A grand reception was later  held in Nwabali’s honour at the Community Primary School, Okwuzi where top dignitaries  including  Sir Job, Chief Whip of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Member Representing ONELGA Constituency I, Hon Franklin Nwabochi as well as Member representing ONELGA Constituency II, Hon Dcns Nkemjika Ezekwe showered encomiums on the Super Eagles shot stopper.

 “To be honest, I really don’t know how to appreciate these people. The love they showed me today is unbelievable. I thought I’d seen it all at the AFCON but I saw a lot today. I was emotional seeing this kind of crowd coming out to give their support and respect to me,” an emotional Nwabali said.

Obuah further stated: “Today, I am happy that one among lots that I invested on has been able to make it up to the Number 1 goalkeeper of the Super Eagles. I am very proud of him and I am happy that a part and parcel of us has made Nigeria proud.”

Caption:  Nwabali (left) presenting a replica of his jersey to the Executive Chairman of ONELGA , Sir Vincent Job during a grand reception in honour of the goalkeeper.