…battles South Africa’s Williams for best goalkeeper
Super Eagles and Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali can be described as one of the rising stars produced during this edition of AFCON. Nwabali who made his first international debut for Nigeria in the ongoing AFCON tournament has contributed a large deal towards the success of the Super Eagles in the tournament.
The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who plies his trade for Chippa United in the South African league, has notably enhanced his reputation through impressive displays in Cote d’Ivoire.
Nwabali has conceded just one goal in four appearances for the Super Eagles, producing one of the saves of the tournament in Nigeria’s 1-0 win against host nation Ivory Coast.
The Ex Kaduna United Shot-stopper was valued at €30,000 before the AFCON games but after putting up an outstanding performance, he is value has risen above €300,000.
Now, according to Daily Post, Chippa United have placed a huge price tag of €2m (₦1.9B) on Nwabali, with European clubs expected to show interest between now and the end of the season. There have been reports of Kaizer Chiefs and some European clubs looking to sign the 27-year-old.
Belgian Club Royale Union Saint-Gilloise have also joined the list of clubs interested in the keeper amongst other Saudi Arabian clubs.
Nwabali’s worth might as well surpass the €2million tag should he win the goalkeeper of the year’s tournament Award and Nigeria lift the AFCON Cup.
Nwabali joined Chippa United in October 2022 and only played nine games throughout the 2022/23 seasons as Namibian Keeper Lloyd Kazapua played ahead of him.
In this 2023/24 season, Nwabali has risen to the top of his game and has featured in 15 games with clean sheets in seven games.
Meanwhile, the Golden Glove at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be keenly contested between Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali and Ronwen Williams of South Africa.
Nwabali and Williams have kept clean sheets in their last four matches and will face each other in the semi-finals.
The only goal Nwabali conceded at the tournament was in the Super Eagles opening 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea. Williams let in two goals for Bafana Bafana when they lost 2-0 to Mali in their first fixture.
Interestingly, both goalkeepers play in South Africa. Nwabali represents Chippa United while Williams turns out for Mamelodi Sundowns.
As it stands, both stoppers have four clean sheets, more than any other keeper has been able to secure in Ivory Coast.
However, South African goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams has revealed how he feels about their 2023 AFCON, semifinal pairing with Nigeria.
William saved as many as four penalties as South Africa beat Cape Verde 2-1 on penalties in the quarterfinal at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro on Saturday.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper has admitted that he is excited about the prospect of facing the Super Eagles with Victor Osimhen.
According to Daily Post, Ronwen Williams told reporters in the mixed zone after the win against Cape Verde, “It’s special just to be part of the Africa Cup of Nations, seeing all these amazing African players playing in big teams in Europe, doing wonderful things so we are just glad we can show our worth as well as South Africans.
“We know it’s going to be a big one coming up so we need to prepare accordingly and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Suffice it to mention that African champions-in-waiting Nigeria will only arrive in the city of Bouake on Tuesday, for their potentially explosive first semi-final of the 34th Africa Cup of Nations against South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at the Stade de la Paix, Bouaké on Wednesday, February 7.
The three-time champions will continue their preparations for the encounter in Abidjan on Monday, and will only have the official training on arrival in Cote d’Ivoire’s second City on Tuesday afternoon.
