Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is owing his trainer at Chippa United a Mercedes Benz. The Nigeria international stole the spotlight in the 2023 AFCON after his heroics in between the sticks fired the Super Eagles to the final of the tournament.
Nwabali’s heroics peaked during Nigeria’s semi-final clash with South Africa. The match went into penalties and the former Rivers United shot-stopper saved two spot-kicks to secure a 4-2 victory for the Super Eagles.
Although the three-time African champions lost in the final, Nwabali became a hero for Nigeria football fans. He celebrated with pomp on his return from the tournament.
Behind the glitters for the goalkeeper, Chippa United staff and Nwabali’s trainer, Sean Louw, seemed to have known what was to come for his trainee. In a quote shared by the Daily Post, Sean Louw had predicted Nwabali would play in the 2023 AFCON but the goalie doubted it. Then, he was down the pecking order in the Super Eagles goalkeeping department behind the likes of Francis Uzoho and Olorunleke Ojo.
However, lucky enough, the Rivers state-born footballer found favour in the eyes of then Super Eagles manager Jose Perseiro.
Speaking with NFF TV, Perseiro said he included Nwabali in the 2023 AFCON squad not because of one match but after his entire evaluation of the goalkeeper.
The former Super Eagles manager added he travelled to South Africa to watch Nwabali play before deciding to include him.
Before the 2023 AFCON tournament, Nwabali had made only 2 appearances for the Super Eagles. He would go ahead to keep the sticks for Nigeria throughout the tournament and become a national hero.
Behind his rise to fame and success with the Super Eagles, it was Sean Louw who was the unlikely prophet. As quoted by Daiiy Post, Sean said he predicted Nwabali would make the AFCON squad and it came to pass. Nwabali, himself had doubted his chances, and they placed a bet that if it happened, he (Nwabali) would give him a Benz.
“I told Stanley that he is going to play in the AFCON and he said, ‘’I will never play at the AFCON as long as I am playing for Chippa,” Louw told Idisktimes.
“I said ‘Challenge accepted’, and he said if he plays AFCON, he will buy me a Mercedes Benz. Until today, I am still waiting for my Mercedes Benz (laughs).”
