CAF Awards: Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali battles Man United, Mamelodi Sundowns stars for Goalkeeper of the Year

Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali has been nominated for the prestigious CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award, Soccernet.ng reports. 

The Chippa United goalie joins a competitive field of elite shot-stoppers from across the continent.

The 28-year-old Super Eagles goalkeeper will face stiff competition from nine other distinguished nominees, including Manchester United’s André Onana and Ronwen Williams from Mamelodi Sundowns. 

The list of nominees showcases a blend of talent, featuring USM Algiers’ Oussama Benbot, Young Africans’ Djigui Diarra, Al Ahly’s Mostafa Shobeir, and several other noteworthy goalkeepers.

Among them are Tunisia’s Amanallah Memmiche, DR Congo’s Lionel Mpasi from Rodez AF, Côte d’Ivoire’s Yahia Fofana of Angers SCO, and Munir El Kajoui from Morocco’s RS Berkane.

Nwabali’s journey to this nomination has been remarkable. Before his move to South Africa in 2022 to join Chippa United, he showcased his skills in the Nigerian Professional Football League with clubs like Wikki Tourists, Enyimba, Lobi Stars, and Katsina United.

His international debut came in 2021 during a friendly match against Mexico in Los Angeles, but it wasn’t until December 2023 that he truly made his mark, being called up for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

During the tournament, Nwabali quickly established himself as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, playing a pivotal role in the team’s impressive run to the final.

His standout performances included four clean sheets in seven matches, culminating in a memorable semi-final where he saved two penalties against South Africa in a tense shootout, earning him the Man of the Match award.

Nwabali’s exceptional performances have not gone unnoticed, earning him a well-deserved nomination for the continent’s best goalkeeper award.

Full List of CAF Best Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees:

• Oussama Benbot (Algeria and USM Algiers)
• André Onana (Cameroon and Manchester United)
• Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
• Djigui Diarra (Mali and Young Africans)
• Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt and Al Ahly )
• Amanallah Memmiche (Tunisia and ES Tunis)
• Lionel Mpasi (DR Congo and Rodez AF)
• Yahia Fofana (Côte d’Ivoire and Angers SCO)
• Munir El Kajoui (Morocco and RS Berkane)