By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria’s Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali was the standout performer as Chippa United held defending Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions Mamelodi Sundowns to a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s season opener at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Mamelodi Sundowns took the lead in the 30th minute when Tashreeq Matthews beat a defender on the edge of the box and delivered a precise pass to Arthur Sales, who calmly finished into the bottom corner.
Chippa United, coached by new manager Sinethemba Badela, created several chances to equalize before halftime but failed to convert.
The second half saw Chippa increase their attacking pressure, while Sundowns aimed to maintain possession and extend their lead. The hosts’ persistence paid off in the 65th minute when debutant Khaya Mfencane capitalized on an opportunity to level the score.
Despite Sundowns intensifying their attacks late in the game, Chippa’s defense held firm. Nwabali made two crucial saves to deny the visitors and preserve the draw, preventing a home defeat on the opening day of the new season.
The Nigerian goalkeeper, who had been linked with moves away from Chippa, has now confirmed his commitment to the club for the season ahead.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
