“Access denied!” — Stanley Nwabali responds to fine penalty save in Chippa United win

By Monsurah Olatunji

Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali delivered an exceptional performance, helping his team secure a 2-0 win over Magesi FC in the South African Premier Soccer League on Saturday.

The 28-year-old shot-stopper, who recently returned to action following the passing of his father, produced a series of key saves, including a standout penalty stop in the second half that prevented the visitors from mounting a comeback.

Nwabali’s unwavering focus and skill were pivotal throughout the match, particularly during a challenging first half where he made critical interventions, including a remarkable double save that helped preserve Chippa’s lead.

The highlight of the match came in the 47th minute when Magesi’s Zimbabwean forward, Edmore Chirambadare, was awarded a penalty.

Nwabali reacted swiftly, diving to his right to deny Chirambadare’s attempt, keeping the visitors at bay and maintaining his team’s advantage.

Despite his outstanding performance, Nwabali was not awarded the Man of the Match accolade, which went to Chippa United’s Sinoxolo Kwayibe, who scored both goals in the victory.

After the match, Nwabali shared an emotional post on social media, dedicating his performance to his late father. Posting a clip of his penalty save on X, he wrote:

“Access denied. Great team performance, penalty save, and a clean sheet. Keep on resting, Dad.”

The victory marked Chippa United’s third clean sheet in their last four matches, pushing them into third place on the PSL table with 14 points from nine games.