“Nigeria’s number 1” – Ex-Super Eagles goalie questions Nwabali’s decision to dump Chippa United

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi has questioned Stanley Nwabali’s decision to depart Chippa United, Soccernet.ng reports.

​On Thursday, it was announced that Nwabali was calling time on his stay at the club. The 28-year-old joined the Chilli Boyz from Katsina United in 2022 and has been a critical part of the team, even earning the captaincy.

​Due to his impressive performances, he earned a call-up to the Super Eagles squad in 2024 and has been the first-choice goalkeeper since then.

​While he has attracted interest from bigger clubs both within and outside of South Africa, nothing concrete has emerged from those reports.

Given that he hadn't moved earlier, it was widely believed that he was happy at the club.

​However, fans were left shocked after it was announced that the Super Eagles star had cut ties with the South African side.

​Nwabali’s decision has been met with mixed reactions, and former Nigerian international Daniel Akpeyi has shared his thoughts on the matter.

While he believes Nwabali has outgrown Chippa United, he expressed concern that the former Enyimba man might struggle to find regular playing time elsewhere.

What Daniel Akpeyi Said About Stanley Nwabali's Chippa United Exit

Just like Stanley Nwabali, Daniel Akpeyi used to play for Chippa United and was Nigeria's number 1 goalie. In a recent interview, he shared his thoughts about Nwabali’s Chippa United exit.

“It’s just that the timing of Nwabali leaving Chippa is something I’m not sure about,” Akpeyi told FarPost.

“Was that a decision from him or from his agent, because the window is closed? You can’t really sign for any team for now, except maybe they had this done before the window closed.

“Or they’re only putting it into the media space now. Otherwise, there’s going to be a FIFA break soon, the national team is going to be engaged, and as number one of the Nigerian national team, he’s obviously going to be needed to participate.”

Nonetheless, Akpeyi is positive that Nwabali will get his acts together and get a bigger club soon.

“You want to be game-ready, game-fit, for you to be able to participate in those games. But so far, things have been working well for him, so that might not be the case,” Akpeyi added.

“He certainly remains in the frame for national team selection, regardless of his current playing status.

“I truly believe things will fall into place for him; he is in the prime of his goalkeeping career. At this level, you don’t just sign for any club.

“He deserves a move to a side that is not only bigger and more prestigious but also more financially stable. Given his pedigree, he has earned that.”

Given that Nwabali is a free agent after terminating his contract at Chippa United, he can join any club. As such, he is expected to join a new team soon.