Super Eagles Goalkeeper Reflects on Profound Grief One Year After Mother’s Death.

Stanley Nwabali

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has opened up in a deeply emotional interview with ACLSports on December 31, 2025 – exactly one year after losing his mother – admitting the grief nearly drove him to quit football.

Nwabali lost his father in November 2024, followed by his mother’s passing on January 1, 2025 – a double blow that left him devastated. In the interview, he fought back tears: “I don’t want to talk about my parents because in a few hours, it’ll be exactly a year since I lost my mum… Most times I feel like quitting… My mom is so dear to me. It’s really painful.”

He added: “It’s not a nice feeling for any human being to lose both parents at the same time… I could remember talking to my captain that I want to leave football. But with the help of some teammates, I keep going.”

Nwabali announced his mother’s death on social media last year with: “Rip mom, worst year of my life already.” Despite the pain, he has continued shining for club (Chippa United) and country, playing a key role in Nigeria’s strong AFCON 2025 group stage.

Watch the video below:

A testament to resilience – strength to Stanley Nwabali. The Super Eagles family stands with you.