Stanley Nwabali impresses for Chippa United, easing Chelle’s concerns

Posted : 19 February 2025

Nigeria's Stanley Nwabali produced a remarkable performance as Chippa United earned a 2-0 away win against Cape Town City in the South African PSL on Tuesday. The victory marked a much-needed boost for the team after struggling in previous matches.

While former Pretoria Callies defender Sinoxolo Kwayiba scored both goals for Chippa United, it was Nwabali's exceptional goalkeeping that was crucial in securing the clean sheet. The Super Eagles goalkeeper made six critical saves, helping his side maintain their first clean sheet since November, ending a run of nine games without one.

Throughout the match, Nwabali was kept busy by Cape Town City's attacking efforts, as he denied shots from Tshegofatso Nyama, Thabo Nodada, Kayden Francis, Haashim Domingo, and Lorenzo Gordinho during the first half, where Chippa United were largely under pressure. Despite this, the visitors struck first in the 60th minute, with Kwayiba finishing off a well-executed counterattack.

Kwayiba added his second goal ten minutes later, combining with Ronaldo Maarman before calmly finding the bottom left corner with a right-footed shot, sealing the win for Chippa United. Cape Town City had one last opportunity in stoppage time, but Nwabali remained sharp, saving a shot from Jody Ahshene to preserve the clean sheet.

This victory marked Chippa United's second league win since November, and it came as a satisfying revenge after Cape Town City had defeated them 1-0 in December. The result not only lifted Chippa United but also provided a significant boost for Nwabali, who had faced criticism for his recent performances.

The Nigerian goalkeeper had been under scrutiny following a series of disappointing displays, including a costly mistake in Chippa United's defeat to TS Galaxy on February 8. Coach Thabo September, however, defended Nwabali, pointing out that the goalkeeper was still grieving the loss of his parents and had requested a rest, but September had pushed him to play as the team’s first-choice keeper.

As Nigeria prepares for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March, Nwabali’s return to form is seen as a vital development for both Chippa United and the Super Eagles. Given the limited options available for Nigeria, Nwabali's performance has alleviated some concerns about his readiness for international duty, and Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle will be closely monitoring his progress ahead of the March qualifiers.

Stanley Nwabali impresses for Chippa United, easing Chelle’s concerns

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