Chippa United and Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is facing a major fitness race ahead of the fast-approaching Africa Cup of Nations, set to kick off in just 13 days. The Nigerian international has not featured for his club since the World Cup qualifiers playoff against DR Congo, after sustaining injuries that now place his AFCON hopes in jeopardy.
Chippa United head coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi has confirmed the severity of the setback, revealing that Nwabali is currently struggling with more than one injury concern.
“I doubt it, looking at the state of his injury. I don’t think he will make it. When I spoke to him, he was confident he would recover soon, but that’s because he wants to be at the Cup of Nations finals. The reality for now is that he is still injured. I hope for the best that he might still make it. It’s an ankle injury, but the hand also needs an operation because he has been playing with it injured for a while, and he aggravated it in Morocco.”
Nwabali is reportedly battling an ankle injury in addition to a long-standing hand issue that now requires surgery. Both concerns have kept him sidelined and have cast significant doubt over his readiness for Nigeria’s AFCON campaign.
With the tournament edging closer, the 28-year-old shot-stopper is racing against time to regain fitness and reclaim his place between the posts for the Super Eagles.