Super Eagles no.1 Stanley Nwabali soldiered through injury in September WCQ

Stanley Nwabali has admitted he featured in Nigeria’s September World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa despite carrying an ankle injury. 

The Super Eagles goalkeeper confirmed to journalist Osasu Obayiuwana that he was not fully fit, raising questions over his long-term availability heading into the final qualifying rounds.

The Chippa United man initially picked up the knock in August during a league clash with Richards Bay, where he was stretchered off before halftime. His withdrawal sparked fears he could miss international duty, but he returned to light training within days and even saved a penalty in his club’s next outing. Still, his condition was far from ideal as he lined up for Nigeria in Uyo and Bloemfontein.

Nwabali injury: Okoye ban complicates Super Eagles options

At 29, Nwabali has grown into one of the most trusted names in Eric Chelle’s setup, but his decision to play through pain highlights the fragility of Nigeria’s goalkeeping department. 

With two decisive fixtures against Lesotho and Benin in October, doubts linger on whether he can remain at peak fitness to anchor the backline.

Maduka Okoye’s absence has only compounded Nigeria’s concerns. The Udinese goalkeeper was left out of the September squad after being handed a two-month suspension by the Italian Football Federation over a betting-related offence. 

The 25-year-old was found guilty of deliberately seeking a yellow card during a Serie A match against Lazio last season, a case that has rocked Italian football. The sanction will sideline him for six competitive games, including Udinese’s Serie A openers. He will be eligible again on October 19 when the Friulians face Cremonese. 

Nigeria, however, play Lesotho away on October 6 and Benin at home on October 10, leaving uncertainty over whether he will be recalled in time or trusted to reclaim the gloves.

With Nwabali’s fitness clouded and Okoye only just returning from suspension, the Super Eagles’ goalkeeping situation remains delicately poised heading into the final World Cup qualifiers and their preparations for AFCON 2025 in Morocco.