Super Eagles head coach Austin Eguavoen has excused bereaved goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from the Super Eagles squad to face Rwanda in Monday’s final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Uyo.
“He has been excused from the game. However, the player will come to watch the match and cheer his teammates on,” Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, told thenff.com.
The player announced via social media on Friday that his father, Godspower Onyekam Abali, Chief Onyeogazrim 1 of Okwuzi, had passed on. The former chief surveyor was 67.
Nwabali’s absence means the contest for the goalkeeping role in Monday’s encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium will be between Italy-based Maduka Okoye and Ethiopia-based Amas Obasogie.
The 28-year-old Nwabali was in goal on Thursday as the Super Eagles drew 1-1 with Benin Republic in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire to finish as Group D winners with a game to spare.
