Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying campaign has suffered a setback after first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali sustained an injury while playing for Chippa United.
The 29-year-old shot-stopper was stretchered off during the first half of Tuesday night’s league clash against Richards Bay, visibly in pain after going down. Chippa United’s medical team is still assessing the extent of the damage.
The injury raises serious concerns for the Super Eagles, who face crucial fixtures against Rwanda and South Africa next month. Nwabali, capped 21 times, has been a consistent and reliable presence under coach Eric Chelle.
Compounding the crisis, regular backup Maduka Okoye is sidelined with a two-month suspension for illegal betting activities. This leaves Nigeria with few options—Amas Obasogie, who plays in Tanzania but is yet to debut for the national team; Adebayo Adeleye of Greek club Volos NPS, who has only one senior appearance; and 15-year-old Ebenezer Harcourt, a promising youngster from the U-20 AFCON squad, who is unlikely to start in such high-pressure games.
Nigeria currently sits fourth in its qualifying group with seven points, trailing leaders South Africa by six. With two challenging matches on the horizon, Nwabali’s potential absence could severely dent their hopes of closing the gap.
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