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Stanley Nwabali Set To Miss Super Eagles Friendly Against Jordan As Chelle Reviews Goalkeeping Options

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Stanley Nwabali Set To Miss Super Eagles Friendly Against Jordan As Chelle Reviews Goalkeeping Options

Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is reportedly not part of the plans of head coach Eric Chelle for the Super Eagles’ upcoming international friendly against the Jordan national football team in March.

Nigeria is scheduled to face the World Cup debutants during the next FIFA international window, with Chelle expected to use the fixture to assess fringe players and several new prospects he has been monitoring.

Nwabali, who is currently without a club, will not be included in the squad for the match — even if he secures a move before the March fixture. Sources indicate that the coaching staff intends to use the opportunity to evaluate alternative goalkeeping options as part of a broader review of the department.

Among those likely to be considered is Arthur Okonkwo, who is currently with Wrexham AFC. However, he is expected to face competition from Francis Uzoho and Amas Obasogie for a starting berth.

Meanwhile, Maduka Okoye, who plays for Udinese Calcio, is reportedly no longer viewed as a preferred option. Sources suggest Chelle was displeased after Okoye allegedly declined a previous national team call-up ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations unless assured of a first-choice role.

The coach is said to have interpreted the stance as a challenge to his authority. While the door may not be completely shut, any potential return to the squad would reportedly depend on further discussions aimed at resolving the issues that led to his omission.

With the friendly against Jordan approaching, Chelle appears set to use the occasion to reshape his goalkeeping hierarchy as Nigeria intensifies preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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