In a major shake-up for the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle is reportedly preparing to drop Stanley Nwabali as his first-choice goalkeeper for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). This decision comes after a series of high-profile mistakes by the shot-stopper in crucial matches.
The Fall from Grace for a National Hero
Stanley Nwabali's rise to the pinnacle of Nigerian football was nothing short of meteoric. The Chippa United goalkeeper seized the number one jersey just before the 2023 AFCON and became an instant hero. His performances were instrumental in Nigeria's journey to the final, where they finished as runners-up to Ivory Coast.
Nwabali's crowning moment came in the semi-final against South Africa, where his penalty shootout heroics earned him the Man-of-the-Match award and a permanent place in the hearts of Nigerian fans. However, his form has dipped alarmingly since that tournament.
Recent matches, particularly in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, have been marred by what analysts describe as "schoolboy errors" and costly howlers from Nwabali. These mistakes have left fans and the technical team deeply concerned about his reliability ahead of another major tournament.
Chelle's Goalkeeping Dilemma and Provisional Squad
Coach Eric Chelle faces a critical decision as the tournament in Morocco approaches. He initially named a massive 55-man provisional squad, which included six goalkeepers. However, only three will make the final cut for the competition.
According to a report from Nigerian outlet Own Goal, citing a source close to the team, a change in goal is highly likely. The source revealed, "There is a huge chance that we will have a change in who will be in goal for the tournament. We haven’t had much chance to shake things up due to how dicey the games have been lately. But with the time and opportunity we have before the tournament, all of that could change."
The source added a telling note on Nwabali's precarious position: "Nwabali is still the first choice but for how long I don’t know because we have had some conversations about his position."
The Contenders for the Number One Shirt
With Nwabali's spot under threat, attention turns to the other goalkeepers vying for the starting role. The source specifically highlighted the impressive form of Maduka Okoye at Italian Serie A club Udinese, stating it is "very difficult to ignore."
Furthermore, Francis Uzoho has also reportedly done well in the UEFA Europa League, putting his name firmly in the conversation. This creates a healthy competition for the gloves, giving Coach Chelle viable alternatives as he finalizes his plans.
The final squad of 28 players must be submitted to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) by December 11. Chelle's provisional list is known to include 14 new faces, five players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), and some returning veterans, many of whom may not survive the final cut.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group C of AFCON 2025 alongside Tanzania, Uganda, and Tunisia. The team will be hoping to go one step further than their 2023 campaign, where they led Ivory Coast at halftime in the final through a William Troost-Ekong goal, only to concede twice in the second half and lose the title.
The upcoming tournament presents a fresh challenge and an opportunity for redemption. Whether Stanley Nwabali can fight his way back into favour or watch from the bench as a new goalkeeper takes charge will be one of the defining stories of Nigeria's AFCON 2025 campaign.
