Major blow for Nigeria: key player could miss AFCON 2025! | OneFootball

Stanley Nwabali doubtful for AFCON Morocco 2025

Nigeria AFCON 2025 / @x.com/AfricaFactsZone/

Several key players are at risk of missing out on the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from December 21 to January 18, 2026.

Stanley Nwabali doubtful for AFCON Morocco 2025

Among the players whose participation remains uncertain, Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali is going through a tough spell. Suffering from both an ankle and a hand injury—which required surgery—the shot-stopper sees his chances of featuring in the tournament significantly reduced.

Since returning to South Africa after representing the Super Eagles in the World Cup qualifiers against DR Congo, Nwabali has not played a single match for his club, Chippa United, remaining sidelined due to his physical problems.

In a statement to (SuperSport), Chippa United’s coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi gave a rather bleak update on his keeper: “I doubt it, looking at the state of his injury. I don't think he will make it”

He added that the situation was still unclear: “When I spoke to him, he was confident he could recover very soon, which is understandable since he absolutely wants to be there for the final stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.”

But Vilakazi reminded everyone of the current reality: “The reality is that he is still injured for now. I just hope things improve and that he can eventually make it.”

It’s worth noting that the AFCON 2025 draw placed the squad led by Eric Chelle in Group C, alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania.

CAN 2025: “Assad”, the official mascot unveiled