Nigeria’s third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco has taken on a deeper meaning after Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali revealed he played most of the tournament while struggling with injury, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 29-year-old, one of Nigeria’s standout performers during the campaign, featured in six of the team’s seven matches and produced a string of decisive displays, including multiple clean sheets and crucial penalty saves.
But Nwabali has now admitted that his tournament was fought against his own body as much as against Africa’s best attackers.
There had been serious concerns about his fitness even before the competition began. His club coach at Chippa United had all but ruled him out of the tournament, with the goalkeeper reportedly battling a double injury to his wrist and ankle. At one point, surgery appeared more likely than a place on the plane to Morocco.
Yet, against the odds, Nwabali made the squad and started Nigeria’s opening two matches against Tanzania and Tunisia, both of which the Super Eagles won. He was rested for the final group game against Uganda, a 3-1 victory in which Francis Uzoho took over in goal, before returning for the knockout rounds.
From there, Nwabali’s influence grew. He kept a clean sheet in the 4-0 last-16 win over Mozambique, followed it up with another shut-out in the 2-0 quarter-final victory against Algeria. Afterwards, Nwabali produced another impressive display against hosts Morocco, including a penalty save, before Nigeria were eventually knocked out on penalties.
He was at his best again in the third-place playoff against Egypt, where he saved spot-kicks from Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush and was named man of the match as Nigeria claimed bronze.
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Stanley Nwabali: I’m not fully fit
Only now has the full scale of Nwabali’s physical battle emerged.
Stanley Nwabali told the Times Live: “With the assistance of the national team and the highest levels of how they treat their players, I managed to get fit enough. I felt like they helped me a lot with my recovery.
“I’m not fully fit but they knew how to manage me. The team’s doctors and physiotherapists worked hard to get me back on the field to play.”
It was his second Africa Cup of Nations appearance, having previously won a silver medal at the 2023 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, but few would argue that this was the competition where he truly announced himself as one of Nigeria’s most reliable goalkeepers.
Attention, however, has now turned back to club football. Nwabali returned to South Africa on Monday and is preparing for the second half of the Betway Premiership season, with Chippa United due to face Orbit College away on Saturday.
The task ahead is a daunting one. Chippa United are bottom of the table with just nine points from 15 games, six points adrift of safety, having won only once and boasting the weakest attack in the league.
“I am done with the national team for now, so I am going to focus on my club to see how we are going to help the team survive relegation,” Nwabali said.
“I know we are at the bottom of the table, and it is not where the team should be. However, based on what the coach has said in interviews, he believes we will not be relegated, and with our mindset we believe the same.”
There was further encouragement for Nwabali and Nigeria this week as the latest FIFA rankings placed the Super Eagles 26th in the world, their highest position in 15 years, and third in Africa behind Morocco and Senegal. For a goalkeeper who played through pain, it was another fitting reward for a tournament defined by resilience.
