Amidst his stellar performances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has eye-catchingly parachuted himself into stardom. We take a look at the fascinating story of the Nigeria and Chippa United star.
The story
A resident of the Eastern Cape, Nwabali was born in Lagos, Nigeria but his name is now hailed across the entire continent. To the disappointment of many South Africans, the 27-year-old put on a heroic display for the Super Eagles, saving two penalties in the shootout to give his side a 4-2 victory over Bafana Bafana and a spot in the final. There's no doubt that there may be some mixed feelings among South Africans about the player now but who can honestly blame him?
In October 2022, he joined Chippa from Nigerian top-flight team Katsina United for an undisclosed fee. Since his senior professional career began, the shot-stopper has never spent more than two years at one club, which is perhaps testament to his ever growing potential in goal. Now onto his second season with the Chilli Boys, club owner Chippa Mpengesi has a lot to ponder about, as one of his prized possessions could be set for a big move.
Read: Nwabali speaks amid South Africa's AFCON heartbreak
His journey with Nigeria began in the worst way possible as Mexico put four goals past him on his debut in July 2021. He would only make his second appearance for the national team in January 2024 in a warm up friendly against Guinea, where he was again on the losing side after a 2-0 defeat. Fast-forward to the continent's biggest tournament and totally out of the blue, his manager Jose Peseiro trusted him with the number one spot, overthrowing Francis Ozoho. He has since kept four cleansheets in six games, as could become the first PSL-based goalkeeper to win AFCON since Kennedy Mweene did so with Zambia in 2012.
Off the field, he appears to be quite a humble and well-spoken character. Often spotted in the coastal suburb of Summerstrand in Gqeberha, Nwabili maintains a neatly simple lifestyle balancing training and some time in the outdoors, as the formerly known town of Port Elizabeth boasts exquisite beaches. One would believe that it's not all work and no play for the keeper, as the 'Friendly City' offers loads of options in the itinerary, including scuba diving, boat cruising, snorkeling, and fishing. Fashionwise, it appears that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication for the Nigerian, as he often rocks easily appeasing outfits comprising torn denims, flannel shirts, hoodies and sweatpants, and fresh kicks.
Scroll through the gallery below to catch a glimpse of Nwabali's off-field life!
Winning AFCON and potentially the tournament's best player as well as the golden glove could propel the Chippa star relatively closer to the fame of his idols Vincent Enyeama and Manuel Neuer.
Read: 'Chippa is disrespecting South Africans'
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