Stanley Nwabali has been outspoken in Nigerian football in recent years, and his latest comments cut right to a structural issue that has defined the career path of almost every footballer who has come out of the sub-region, Footynaija.com reports.
Nwabali, who served as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper during their run to the 2023 AFCON final and remained central to Eric Chelle’s plans through the recent tournament in Morocco, spent four years at Chippa United in South Africa before leaving the club earlier this year.
Since leaving the South African side, he has been training independently while awaiting his next club, with Tanzanian giants Simba SC among the teams monitoring his situation.
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The 29-year-old’s own experience of moving from Nigeria to South Africa gives his words on the matter particular weight.
‘If your league is nice, what are you leaving for?’
Speaking in quotes revealed by Brila, Nwabali explained why the migration of West African players away from their domestic leagues persists.
“In West Africa, our leagues are not as good. We want to go to Europe, we want to come to South Africa, we want to go to Morocco,” the former Chippa United shot-stopper said.
He pointed to the economic conditions that make staying home unthinkable for most players.
“The league, the pay is a little bit nice for a certain level of your team,” he said.
“If your league is nice, you’re getting paid, you’re getting sponsors, what are you leaving for?”
The point is one Nigerian football administrators have heard before without acting on decisively. Nwabali himself has made said he is open to playing anywhere, describing himself as ready for any club whether local or international.
A goalkeeper of his profile remaining without a club months into the year captures precisely the gap he is describing.
