The situation marks one of the biggest blows yet to a Super Eagles squad already weakened by withdrawals, fitness problems, and a rapidly shifting defensive lineup.Stanley Nwabali — the hero of Nigeria’s AFCON 2023 run — has not featured since the Super Eagles’ dramatic penalty shootout loss to DR Congo in Rabat during the World Cup qualifying playoffs. His ankle and hand injuries have now cast deeper doubts over his participation, especially after stark remarks from his club coach at Chippa United.
Chippa United head coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi gave the clearest indication so far that Nwabali is unlikely to make the final AFCON squad. “I doubt it (if Nwabali would be fit for the AFCON), looking at the state of his injury,” Vilakazi told supersport.com. He continued: “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 the reality is saying for now he is still injured. I also hope for the best that he might find himself there.”
Vilakazi revealed that the goalkeeper is dealing with an ankle injury and also requires surgery on a long-standing hand injury that worsened during the playoff clash in Morocco. At 29, Nwabali has become Nigeria’s most trusted keeper, earning 27 caps and holding the No.1 shirt with composure and authority. His possible absence strips the squad of stability at a time when defensive consistency is already in crisis.
Nigeria listed him in the provisional squad last week, but head coach Eric Chelle has yet to publish his final 27-man list. With the opening Group C game against Tanzania in Fes only days away, Nwabali is running out of time.The group also features Tunisia and Uganda — a tricky set of fixtures demanding strong defensive organisation, which Nigeria currently lacks.
Chelle’s defensive concerns go well beyond Nwabali: Benjamin Fredrick and Felix Agu are confirmed out. Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi are major doubts. Captain William Troost-Ekong, MVP of the last AFCON, has retired after 83 caps, leaving a leadership vacuum in defence. With two centre-backs unavailable, a depleted full-back department, and the first-choice goalkeeper injured, Chelle is under pressure to rebuild an entire defensive unit with almost no time.
If Nwabali is ruled out, Chelle will have to pick from five alternatives: Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania) Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy), Adebayo Adeleye (Volos FC, Greece), Francis Uzoho (Omonia, Cyprus), and Ebenezer Harcourt (Sporting Lagos). Okoye and Uzoho have AFCON experience but inconsistent form. Obasogie and Harcourt remain untested on the big stage, while Adeleye is an outsider option. The Super Eagles now face the prospect of entering AFCON with one of the most unsettled defensive lineups in years — and potentially without the man who became Nigeria’s symbol of calm under pressure.
Source: https://soccernet.ng/
