Nwabali vs Okoye: Will Eric Chelle follow Luis de la Fuente’s bold goalkeeper call?

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has returned to football after signing a new contract with Chippa United last week, Afrik-Foot reports.

​The move came as a surprise to many fans, as he had only just left the same club in February and was expected to join a new team afterward. However, he failed to secure a move.

​Upon his return, it was revealed that Nwabali’s departure wasn’t solely about finding a new club; rather, he needed time to improve his mental health. Recall that he lost both parents within the space of two months between December 2024 and January 2025.

​He could not take an extended break to mourn them due to a tight football schedule, as he was alternating between Chippa United and the Super Eagles.

​However, with Nigeria absent from the 2026 World Cup and Chippa United safe in the South African Premier Soccer League, he finally decided to take time off in February.

​How Break Affected Stanley Nwabali’s Super Eagles Standing

​Nwabali took a break from football in February, and during that period, the Super Eagles played in two different international windows — first in March, before assembling again in May.

​Due to his inactivity, coach Eric Chelle did not call up Nwabali to the Super Eagles camp. In March, Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye shared the minutes against Jordan and Iran.

​Then in May for the Unity Cup, Arthur Okonkwo was in charge. Okoye subsequently played the games against Poland and Portugal.

​Okoye was simply brilliant in those games. If not for his stellar performances between the sticks, Nigeria would have taken a real beating against the Seleção.

​That display made it look like Okoye might permanently become the first-choice goalkeeper, but there could be a twist.

​Will Eric Chelle Do a De La Fuente?

​Upon Nwabali’s return to Chippa United, his representative, Mohammed Lawal, revealed that throughout his break, the Super Eagles star was in constant communication with coach Eric Chelle, who acted as a pillar of support.

​”Now Stanley is ready. He’s more than ready. He’s taken the time he needed, and the national team coach Chelle also supported him throughout the process, communicating with him constantly,” Lawal said.

​This means the 30-year-old shot-stopper will likely earn a spot in the Super Eagles squad once he returns to action, but will he get the number one shirt back?

​At the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Americas, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente opted to stick with his usual number one shot-stopper, Unai Simon. Before the Mundial, Arsenal star David Raya was the in-form player, having won the league with Arsenal and earned arguments as their best player.

​Raya also helped Arsenal to a second-place finish in the UEFA Champions League. Simon, on the other hand, finished 12th with Athletic Bilbao in La Liga and conceded 58 goals across 38 games.

Before Spain had kicked a ball at this World Cup, one of the biggest talking points surrounding the squad was about who should start in goal.

Luis de la Fuente had David Raya, Joan Garcia and Unai Simon to choose from — and No 1 Simon understood why the debate existed.

Inside… pic.twitter.com/2z9nQVLomP

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 19, 2026

​It was widely expected that Raya would man the sticks for La Furia Roja. Yet, De La Fuente kept his trust in Simon, who has been his preferred number one since taking over the Spain job.

​Drawing a parallel with the Super Eagles, given that Nwabali already has an established understanding with Chelle — and the Franco-Malian tactician has consistently backed him — there is a strong chance Nwabali might reclaim his starting spot.

​Many national team coaches prefer to stick with their most-trusted goalkeepers, and this loyalty could come into play here.

​The Chippa United man has been mostly brilliant under Chelle, so if he can prove he is back to his best, he has a great shot.

​The Super Eagles will return to action in September for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, and by then, things will become much clearer.