William Troost-Ekong dedicates Nigeria win in Rwanda to grieving Stanley Nwabali

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria stand-in captain, William Troost-Ekong, has dedicated Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Rwanda in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers to goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, who has endured a deeply personal loss in recent months.

The victory, which was Nigeria’s first in the qualifying campaign after four consecutive winless games, came with Nwabali in goal. The Chippa United goalkeeper had faced a heart-wrenching ordeal, losing both of his parents between November and January.

Following the game, Troost-Ekong, visibly moved, took a moment to acknowledge Nwabali’s resilience, sharing heartfelt words for the goalkeeper, who has become an integral part of the Super Eagles.

“I want to dedicate this game from all of us to Stanley, who is such an integral part of our team now,” Troost-Ekong said, according to Modo Victor.

“He’s been through a lot since we last saw him in November, so today’s game afterwards, we celebrated it with him because it’s not been easy what he’s been through. And again like always, today he was fantastic.”

Troost-Ekong stressed the importance of family and solidarity within the team, emphasizing that, despite the challenges they face on the pitch, moments of success are even more meaningful when they are shared with one another.

“We are one big family, and we have to celebrate these moments together and support each other,” the captain added.

Nwabali’s emotional journey has resonated deeply with his teammates, and his performance in the crucial World Cup qualifier against Rwanda was a testament to his strength and determination.

The Super Eagles’ victory not only marked a much-needed boost in their qualification hopes but also reinforced the bond within the team, with Nwabali at the heart of their celebrations.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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