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Nigeria’s hopes of mounting a strong challenge at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations have suffered a major setback, with first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali facing a race against time to be fit for the tournament, Footynaija.com reports.
The 29-year-old, who emerged as one of the standout performers at the last AFCON where Nigeria finished as runners-up, has been sidelined since the Super Eagles’ penalty shootout loss to DR Congo in last month’s World Cup qualifying playoff.
And now, his club coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi has cast serious doubt over his participation in Morocco.
“I doubt it (if Nwabali would be fit for the AFCON), looking at the state of his injury,” Vilakazi told supersport.com.
“I don’t think he will make it, but when I was talking to him, he was confident that he will recover very soon, but obviously you will understand because he’s a player he wants to be there at the Cup of Nations finals.
“But the reality is saying for now he is still injured. I also hope for the best that he might find himself there.
“It’s an ankle injury, but then also the hand needs an operation because he’s been playing with that (injured) hand for a while now and he aggravated the injury while he was in Morocco.”
The Chippa United shot-stopper is battling both an ankle problem and a worsening hand injury that may require surgery. Vilakazi confirmed the goalkeeper had been playing through pain for months before aggravating the issue in Morocco.
The timing could hardly be worse. Nigeria, already stretched by withdrawals and fitness concerns, now risk losing a player who has become central to their defensive identity. With 27 caps and a commanding presence in goal, Nwabali has grown into one of the squad’s most trusted figures.
Head coach Eric Chelle named him in a provisional list last week but is yet to finalise his 27-man squad. Nigeria open their Group C campaign against Tanzania in Fes on 23 December before meetings with Tunisia and Uganda.
Chelle’s selection headache does not end in goal. Defenders Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu are ruled out, while Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi remain significant doubts.
Compounding the crisis is the recent international retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong, MVP of the last AFCON and the backbone of Nigeria’s defence for nearly a decade.
If Nwabali is unable to recover in time, Chelle must pick from Amas Obasogie, Maduka Okoye, Adebayo Adeleye, Francis Uzoho, and Ebenezer Harcourt. None offer Nwabali’s blend of calm, confidence, and consistency.
With AFCON fast approaching, Nigeria now face the prospect of entering the tournament without their most reliable goalkeeper, a development that could reshape their ambitions in Morocco.
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