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| Stanley Nwabali Lives in the Uyo Sports Stadium |
Chippa United coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi has openly voiced concerns about Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali's potential involvement in the forthcoming 2026 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Morocco. The South African manager provided details on Nwabali's current physical condition, explaining the factors that might prevent the Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper from joining the team for the event.
During an interview with SuperSport, Vilakazi mentioned a discussion with the national team's primary goalkeeper. Although the coach had apprehensions, Nwabali himself was optimistic about his prompt recovery. Vilakazi stated, "I don't think Stanley will make it to the AFCON but when I was talking to him, he was confident that he would recover very soon," indicating the player's belief in a quick turnaround.
The South African coach reported that Nwabali is currently managing two injuries. Besides an ankle issue, his hand requires surgery because he has been competing with that injury for some time, and the problem worsened during his time in Morocco. Vilakazi revealed, "It is an ankle injury, but then also the hand needs an operation because he has been playing with that injured hand for a while and he exacerbated the injury while he was in Morocco."
The injury is believed to have been sustained or worsened during the crucial third-place match against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The game went into a penalty shootout after a draw, which highlights the intense conditions Nwabali was playing under despite his existing ailments.