First-choice Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali will miss Nigeria’s final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda following the passing of his father, team officials confirmed.
Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor revealed that Head Coach Augustine Eguavoen has granted Nwabali leave to mourn his late father.
“He has been excused from the game. However, the player will come to watch the match and cheer his team mates on,” Achor told thenff.com.
The development came after Nwabali announced on his social media handle on Friday that his father, Godspower Onyekam Abali, Chief Onyeogazrim 1 of Okwuzi, had passed away at the age of 67. The late Chief Abali served as a former chief surveyor.
With Nwabali’s absence from Monday’s encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, the goalkeeping duties will fall to either Italy-based Maduka Okoye or Ethiopia-based Amas Obasogie, who will compete for the starting position.
The match against Rwanda’s Amavubi team represents Nigeria’s final qualifying fixture for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with Coach Eguavoen now forced to reshape his goalkeeping plans following this unfortunate development in Nwabali’s family.
Despite being excused from playing duties, Nwabali is expected to be present at the stadium to support his teammates as they aim to conclude their qualification campaign on a positive note.
The loss of the first-choice goalkeeper presents an opportunity for either Okoye or Obasogie to stake their claim for the number one jersey, adding an interesting subplot to Monday’s qualification finale in Uyo.
