CHIPPA United coach, Luc Eymael has confirmed that all is not well between the club and the captain, Stanley Nwabali, sparking fresh speculation about the Nigerian goalkeeper’s future.
Nwabali, who joined the South African side from Katsina United in 2022, quickly established himself as a key figure between the posts. His consistency earned him the captain’s armband at Chippa United and later a breakthrough with Nigeria’s Super Eagles, where he became first-choice goalkeeper during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year.
In recent months, the 28-year-old has been linked with several top clubs both in South Africa and abroad. Despite the transfer rumors, Nwabali has maintained professionalism and never openly pushed for a move.
However, people were in shock on Sunday when he was left out of Chippa United’s squad in the 2-1 defeat to Polokwane, with no reported injury.
Speaking after the game, Eymael admitted the goalkeeper’s absence was due to internal issues.
”We have to deal with some internal problems,” the Belgian coach said. “You saw that one important player “Nwabali” was not there today, and it’s a problem we have to sort out. I prefer not to go into details with the media. It’s sad, but these things happen in football.”
Eymael stated that the situation creates opportunities for other players but stressed the importance of unity within the squad.
Nwabali’s omission comes at a time when his stock is at an all-time high, following strong performances for both club and country. His future at Chippa United now looks uncertain, and fans will be watching closely to see if this fallout leads to an exit.
