Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali's international breakthrough will upsurge his market value tenfold with a move away from DStv Premiership club Chippa United now having moved from being certain to definite.
Nwabali has gatcerashed his way to being the first-choice keeper for the Super Eagles at the AFCON finals despite playing for Chippa rewarding Jose Peseiro with solid displays between the posts.
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The big keeper has conceded one goal and kept three clean sheets in four games at the AFCON with Nigeria now through to face Angola in the quarter-finals.
Nwabali joins Bafana Bafana captain and fellow DStv Premiership colleague Ronwen Williams with the most clean sheets at the tournament.
Of note is the fact that the 27-year-old's value will increase tenfold from when he joined Chippa United just over a year ago.
While the 24 appearances that Nwabali has made at Chippa have won him a place in the national team, his transfer value has grown massively as well.
When joining Chippa from Katsina United, Nwabali's worth – according to Transfermarkt website, was just over 30 000 Euro (approx. R600 000) but based on his showing at the ongoing AFCON he will surpass the 300 000 Euro (approx. R6,1 million) mark.
One contact of Nigerian descent believes Nwabali will surpass the R10 million mark if he wins the goalkeeper of the tournament award and Nigeria lift the AFCON.
Belgian club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise have led the list of clubs that have shown interest with another option in Saudi Arabia being added.
There has also been speculation of interest from Kaizer Chiefs.
Nwabali signed for Chippa in October 2022 and only played nine games through the 2022/23 season as Namibian keeper Lloyd Kazapua played ahead of him.
Into the 2023/24 season, Nwabali worked his way to the front of the queue and has been dishing out solid performances between with seven clean sheets in 15 games.
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Such numbers at a club like Chippa United – who usually struggle in the bottom half, are an achievement and it was no surprise Peseiro took notice.
The 27-year-old was between the posts in the AFCON opener against Equatorial Guinea and is expected to keep his place for the rest of the tournament.
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