Maybe Nwabali should have hung on with Chippa United, says Troost-Ekong

Editor

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong believes that the decision of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to leave his club, Chippa United, without first having another ready contract elsewhere was a huge mistake by the former Super Eagles number one.

Nwabali came to the national limelight and became Nigeria’s first-choice goalie during the 2023 AFCON. He strengthened his spot as the number one goalkeeper for Nigeria at the 2025 edition in Morocco, where the Super Eagles finished third. His performances made him highly rated, and he received a nomination for the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award; the general view was that he would be snapped up by another club so easily.

However, in February 2026, the 30-year-old made a bold career move. While still under contract with Chippa United, he requested permission to leave the South African club in search of a more competitive challenge and better financial opportunities. Chippa United agreed to the request, and both parties terminated the contract four months before its scheduled expiry.

But the expected smooth and quick transition to another club did not go the way Nwabali and his fans had expected.

Troost-Ekong, who was the Super Eagles captain and teammate with Nwabali, believes the goalkeeper may have benefited from staying at Chippa United until the end of the season. The departure time, he says, was not carefully thought through.

“Obviously, I can’t speak for Stanley, but based on how things have unfolded now, maybe it would’ve been a better decision to remain with Chippa,” Troost-Ekong told Sowetan.

“That’s me speaking from the outside because, of course, we don’t know what occurred between him and the club. It’s a difficult one. I think seeing Stanley’s rise over the last few years has been amazing.

“I think he’s been the soldier we need for the national team. He had a fantastic AFCON twice in a row, which is very difficult to do.”

Troost-Ekong believes the biggest issue was that Nwabali terminated his contract outside the transfer window. Although he became a free agent, registration rules made it difficult for him to immediately join another club.

Nwabali’s lack of club and active football is costing him greatly, as he has since been left out of the Eagles by the Nigerian coach Chelle. He has not been invited to even friendly matches this year.