Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali faces AFCON fitness doubt after ankle and hand injuries raise concerns ahead of Morocco tournament

Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, is facing uncertainty ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco following a troubling update on his fitness.

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Chippa United head coach, Vusimuzi Vilakazi, confirmed on Monday that Nwabali is currently dealing with two injuries — an ankle issue and a hand injury that reportedly “needs an operation.”

Both injuries were reportedly aggravated during recent national team duties with Nigeria.

Vilakazi warned that the 28-year-old shot-stopper “could miss out” on the continental tournament, describing his availability as a “huge doubt.”

Nwabali has not featured for Chippa United since Nigeria’s AFCON playoff clash against DR Congo last month, which ended in a penalty heartbreak for the Super Eagles.

Medical assessments suggesting potential surgery have intensified concerns over Nwabali’s readiness for the AFCON campaign, which kicks off in Rabat on December 21.

The Super Eagles technical crew, led by head coach Eric Chelle, will closely monitor the situation as Nwabali’s early-season performances had established him as Nigeria’s leading option between the posts.

Other goalkeepers named in the provisional 54-man squad include Adeleye Adebayo, Francis Uzoho, Amas Obasogie, Ebenezer Harcourt, and Maduka Okoye.

The list is expected to be reduced to 28 players in the coming days ahead of the tournament.

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For now, Nwabali faces a race against time, and Nigeria may be forced to head into AFCON without one of its most reliable performers.