Before facing Bafana Bafana... an important player from the Super Eagles ranks is injured! | OneFootball

A painful technical blow to the Super Eagles

Before facing Bafana Bafana... an important player from the Super Eagles ranks is injured!

A major setback has hit the Nigerian national team just days before their critical World Cup qualifying match against South Africa. First-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali suffered an injury during his club's midweek fixture, creating significant uncertainty around his participation in the upcoming international clash.

The 29-year-old shot-stopper was stretchered off the pitch during the first half of Chippa United's match against Richards Bay FC, forcing an early substitution. While the exact nature and severity of the injury remain undetermined, club officials have confirmed that medical staff are still evaluating the condition.

Nwabali's potential absence represents a substantial challenge for Nigeria's defensive preparations, particularly as he was included in the recently announced 31-man provisional squad. The national team selectors have identified three alternative goalkeeping options—Adebayo Adeleye, Amas Obasogie, and Ebenezer Harcourt—who could potentially step in should Nwabali be unavailable for the September 9th encounter in Bloemfontein.

The timing of this injury presents additional complications as both teams navigate preliminary matches before their direct confrontation, with South Africa scheduled to host Lesotho at the same venue days earlier.