Chippa United Coach Vilakazi Questions 29-Year-Old‘s Fitness After World Cup Playoffs Aggravation; Maduka Okoye Poised as Replacement.

Stanley Nwabali

Nigeria‘s Super Eagles face a major setback ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, with first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali ruled highly doubtful due to lingering ankle and hand injuries, as reported by Sportblits.com.

Injury Aggravation Traces to Morocco Playoffs

The 29-year-old Chippa United shot-stopper, who cemented his status as Nigeria’s No. 1 during the 2023 AFCON runners-up campaign in Côte d’Ivoire, exacerbated the issues during the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs in Rabat last month. Nwabali has been absent for the Chilli Boys since returning, missing key Premier Soccer League fixtures against Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United, and Kaizer Chiefs.

Vilakazi‘s Verdict: “I Doubt It“, But Nwabali Remains Optimistic

Chippa United coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi delivered a sobering assessment to SuperSport: “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 elaborated on the dual woes: “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 hand surgery requirement, delayed to prioritize recovery, casts serious shadows over Nwabali’s December 21 tournament start, despite his inclusion in coach Eric Chelle‘s 54-man provisional list. Reports suggest Chelle may strip him of the No. 1 shirt altogether, viewing the timeline as insurmountable.

Super Eagles Goalkeeper Crisis Deepens

Nwabali’s potential absence compounds Nigeria’s defensive woes: Captain William Troost-Ekong‘s retirement after 83 caps and injuries to two centre-backs leave Chelle scrambling for a backline overhaul. Udinese‘s Maduka Okoye emerges as the frontrunner to step in, despite his 2021 AFCON blunder against Tunisia that cost him the spot, though he boasts Serie A experience.

Other options include Amas Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania), Adebayo Adeleye (Volos FC, Greece), Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus), and prodigy Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos), but none match Nwabali’s 13 caps and composure forged in AFCON 2023 heroics.

AFCON 2025 Stakes for Nigeria

Drawn in Group C with Uganda, Tanzania, and Tunisia, the Super Eagles, defending finalists, open against the Cranes on December 23 at Stade Adrar in Agadir. Nwabali’s “major blow“, echoing earlier scares like his August ankle tweak before World Cup qualifiers, tests Chelle’s squad depth as the tournament looms from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

With FIFA‘s December 15 player release deadline approaching, Nigeria‘s medical team races the clock. Can Okoye rise to the occasion, or will Nwabali’s grit defy odds for a miracle recovery? The Atlas Lions‘ den awaits.