Stanley Nwabali, Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, is facing an uncertain future at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to injuries.
He’s been struggling with ankle and hand injuries, which have raised concerns about his availability for the tournament.
His club coach, Vusimuzi Vilakazi, expressed doubts about Nwabali’s participation, stating that the goalkeeper is still injured and needs surgery for his hand.
“I don’t think he will make it, but when I was talking to him, he was confident that he will recover very soon,” Vilakazi told SuperSport.
Nwabali, 29, has been a key player for Nigeria, earning 27 caps and helping the team reach the AFCON final in 2023.
However, his recent injuries have put his participation in doubt, and he hasn’t played since Nigeria’s World Cup playoff loss to DR Congo.
Coach Eric Chelle has included Nwabali in the provisional squad, but alternatives like Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, and Adebayo Adeleye are being considered if he’s unavailable.
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