Official: Nwabali is no longer the starting goalkeeper of the Super Eagles

A technical staff of the Nigeria senior team says coach Eric Chelle has left Stanley Nwabali as his first-choice goalkeeper as he does not have a club at the moment, reports OwnGoalNigeria.com.

Nwabali left Chippa United after the AFCON by mutual consent and has not been active since the shock decision. That is why he was not chosen in the team that played the summer friendlies.

Chelle has now decided to prioritize Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye as his first choice ahead of next year’s AFCON qualifiers.

“The game does not wait and Stanley will now have to displace Okoye to regain his position. Chelle was very impressed with Okoye and communicated his decision to make him the new first choice before the team left Portugal after their last friendly match,” said a team official.

He said Nwabali’s decision to terminate his agreement with Chippa came as a surprise, especially without an immediate alternative.

“It was a surprise to the entire team, especially when we found out that he has no immediate plans on the next step in his career. You don’t want to see a player inactive and it is a concern.”

Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman

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