Super Eagles new and finest goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali may still be available for selection for the quarter-final duel with Angola if he passes a late fitness test set for Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Chippa United goalie suffered a ligament injury during Nigeria’s Round of 16 battle with Cameroon at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny on Saturday
Nwabali and Cameroon’s Georges-Kevin N’Koudou collided in the box in the 72nd minute but continued after initial treatment for about eight minutes before the technical team substituted him with Francis Uzoho in the 80th minute.
Nigeria team doctors have been working on him to see if he will come good in a late fitness test 48 hours before the cracker with the southern Africans.
“Fingers crossed. If all goes well, he might be available for selection.”
The Chippa United safest hand has won the hearts of Nigerians with his self-assured posture between the sticks and his penchant for launching onslaughts with long kicks that have been unsettling the opposition at this tournament.
Also speaking on Nwabali’s recovery, Super Eagles media officer, Babafemi Raji allayed fears about the severity of the injury, adding that the result of Nwabali scan was still being awaited.
“Yes, he had a test/scan yesterday, and we are waiting for the result of the scan,” Raji said.
“I think he’s done well so far, so good with trying to recover from the injury, and the medics are really working hard on him.
“I don’t think it’s anything too serious that will rule him out of the tournament.
“But we just have to wait until we hear the result of the scan.”
