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Nigeria’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have received a significant lift following a positive update on the fitness of Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, Footynaija.com reports.
Initial fears over his availability had grown after Chippa United head coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi publicly suggested the player was unlikely to recover in time for the tournament, citing both ankle and hand injuries.
However, former Super Eagles goalkeeper Greg Etafia has provided a much more encouraging assessment.
Solid win and clean sheet. We went for sightseeing . Great team spirit!!! #Nwabali #SafeHands #worldcupqualifiers pic.twitter.com/hw5PULTd87
— Nwabali Stanley bobo (M.O.N) (@NwabaliBobo) March 21, 2025
Speaking from South Africa, Etafia revealed that Nwabali has resumed training and is showing promising signs of progress.
According to him, the goalkeeper has moved from indoor gym work to light training on grass, a key milestone in his rehabilitation.
Etafia said he had spoken directly with one of Nwabali’s teammates, who confirmed the Nigerian is feeling better and responding well to treatment.
“Nwabali has started training,” Etafia said as per the Nation.
“I spoke to one of his teammates, the goalkeeper who was playing when he was on his absence, and he told me that now he has started training again, and he’s feeling better.
“They haven’t gone on break yet. I think they will go on the 20th or the 22nd, so he’s still around the team. He’s feeling better now, and I think he has started both gym work and grass training, which is very good for him.
“We’ll see what’s going to happen, but from what I’m hearing and from what the guys at Chippa have said, I think he’s going to be okay. He just needs to keep working, and if he continues like this, he should be ready. I’m confident he will make it in time.”
Maybe it’s the end of the competition, but not the end of the story!
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) February 11, 2024
Heads up, Nwabali. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2023Final pic.twitter.com/lNA1NfYeQe
Nwabali, who was instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the final at the last AFCON, has been included in the provisional squad announced by head coach Eric Chelle. The final list of 27 players is expected soon, and Nwabali’s improving condition could see him retain his place.
