The head coach of Chippa United Morgan Mammila has all but hinted that Stanley Nwabali will be heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with the senior national team of Nigeria after a visit by the head coach of the team Jose Peseiro.
Nigeria are currently having a crisis in goal and as first reported by OwnGoalNigeria.com in October, Nwabali who joined Chippa United a little over a year ago is seen by the coach of the Nigerian team as one option who could challenge present first choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.
Peseiro visited the club and watched the 27 year old in goal against Golden Arrows where he kept his seventh clean sheet of the season as they run out 2-0 winners. Mammila says the coach was impressed with the shot stopper’s display in the game.
“It means a lot to the entire club, having a national team coach coming to South Africa to see a player,” said Mammila after Chippa recorded their fourth league win this season against Abafana Bes’Thende.
“They had lunch, and dinner with me and had a chat with the players, it means a lot. When we were chatting, I could see that there is not that much difference (between us and Peseiro in coaching terms), the only thing is how you say it.
“Overall, I grabbed one of two things from him because when we were talking to each other you get one or two you can use in the future. What a gentleman.
“I’m happy, and he will sleep peacefully himself that at least he came to Chippa.”
He went further to claim that the goalkeeper is AFCON bound with the Super Eagles saying his fears is that top teams will snatch him from them after the tournament due to what he expects him to put up in Cote d’Ivoire next year.
“The way Stanley plays, he is in (AFCON finals squad),” said Mammila.
“I expect him to be at AFCON. The only problem is, we are going to lose Stanley. If he plays like this at AFCON, I’m telling you Stanley may not come back [from] the AFCON.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
