Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi, believes Stanley Nwabali is well positioned to reclaim Nigeria’s number one shirt after sealing a return to South African club Chippa United, stressing that the goalkeeper’s absence from the national team was largely due to his lack of club football.
According to The Punch, Nwabali emerged as the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire, where he played a key role in Nigeria’s run to the final. He retained his place through the 2025 AFCON, helping the team secure a record ninth bronze medal.
However, the shot-stopper has not featured for the Super Eagles since parting ways with Chippa United by mutual consent in February.
His absence saw him miss Nigeria’s successful 2026 Unity Cup campaign and subsequent international friendlies against Poland and Portugal, with Francis Uzoho, Arthur Okonkwo and Maduka Okoye taking turns in goal.
Speaking to FARPost, Akpeyi backed Nwabali to regain his place in Eric Chelle’s squad once he returns to regular action at club level, citing his impressive performances for the national team.
“He has been excellent, absolutely excellent. Faultless for Nigeria. He has taken them to places. He performed consistently well for the Super Eagles. A lot can change in a season. Football is so fluid.
I know he will manage to get back his form and earn the trust of the coaches, then he will rise again quickly. I would not be surprised if he was Nigeria’s number one in the next few games,” Akpeyi said.
The former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper maintained that Nwabali’s omission from recent squads had nothing to do with his ability but rather his lack of competitive football.
“When you are not attached to any team, it is obvious you will not get invited to the national team. Even when you are not playing regularly, it is very difficult to get a call-up,” he said.
Akpeyi also suggested that Nwabali’s decision to rejoin Chippa United, the club where he first made his name, offers him the ideal platform to rebuild his confidence and earn another Super Eagles invitation.
“He needs to revive himself. But it has started with first getting a team, as it gives him an opportunity to be recalled to the national team. So this could be one of the reasons why he decided to come back home to Chippa United, where he started. At least there, he will get the platform to play and remind people what he can do,” Akpeyi said.
Nwabali is expected to begin a fresh chapter with Chippa United when the 2026/27 South African Premiership season kicks off on August 1, with the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, scheduled to start in September, providing a potential route back into the Super Eagles squad.
