Former Nigerian international goalkeeper Peterside Idah says he would not oppose Stanley Nwabali joining Kaizer Chiefs, but insists the Super Eagles star has the quality to earn a move to Europe.
Nwabali is expected to make a decision on his future this summer after spending recent months without a club. The 29-year-old shot-stopper has yet to play outside Africa, having begun his career in the Nigeria Premier Football League before later moving to South Africa.
He had previously attracted interest from Crystal Palace as well as several Saudi Arabian clubs, though those links have cooled in recent times without any concrete transfer materializing.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, Idah emphasized that Europe should remain the ultimate goal for Nwabali, even if it means starting at a lower level.
“It’s never easy for goalkeepers outside Africa,” Idah admitted. “But he’s a big boy, and he has played two AFCONs; he has proved himself that he can play outside the country.”
Idah suggested that leagues in Spain or the Netherlands would provide an ideal pathway for the Nigerian international.
“Even if it is starting in a lower league, Division 2, then La Liga. Spain is always good because they are not as fast or quick as the English league, so you can always start somewhere. For me, Spain or Holland, these are two good places for goalkeepers, and our Nigerian goalkeepers have proved that those places are good enough.”
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.
