Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has returned to South African Premiership club Chippa United, five months after his unexpected departure from the side.
The Eastern Cape-based club announced the Super Eagles goalkeeper’s comeback on Saturday, ending months of speculation over his future after his contract was ended by mutual agreement in February.
At the time, neither Nwabali nor Chippa United gave details about the reason behind the sudden separation, although the goalkeeper suggested that the decision was linked to his personal happiness and well-being.
Speaking to South Africa’s Metro FM shortly after leaving the club, Nwabali described the decision as difficult but necessary. “It is best you are being comfortable and enjoying the moment.
“It was a strong decision, not a really nice decision and I felt it is best for me. Football is something that deals with happiness, your happiness comes first. I am happy with the club, but it is something that both parties understand,” he said.
The move came shortly after the goalkeeper had signed a new long-term contract with Chippa United, making his exit even more surprising.
However, his representative, Mohammed Lawal, later explained that Nwabali’s decision was not because of issues with the club or offers from elsewhere, but because he needed time away from football after experiencing a difficult personal loss.
Lawal, speaking with Nwabali’s permission, told ESPN on Wednesday, that the goalkeeper stepped away from the game after losing three close family members within a short period.
Nwabali’s grandmother died weeks before Nigeria’s November 2024 World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic.
His father, Godspower Nwabali, passed away around the same period, shortly after the goalkeeper featured in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw, forcing him to leave the national team camp to mourn. His mother, Grace Nwabali, later died on January 1, 2025.
The series of losses took a heavy emotional toll on the goalkeeper. During the Africa Cup of Nations, before his eventual break from football, Nwabali had revealed that he told Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi that he wanted to quit, but teammates persuaded him to continue.
According to Lawal, those close to the goalkeeper believed he needed time away before making a decision that could affect his career permanently.
“We told him, ‘This isn’t you. Take time away before you do permanent damage to your career,’” Lawal said.
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Despite stepping away from the game, Nwabali chose not to disclose the personal reasons behind his decision at the time. In his interview with Metro FM after leaving Chippa United, he remained private about the situation.
“I might say goodbye now, but not forever. “It was a strong decision, not a really nice decision and I felt it is best for me.
“The chairman has been like a father to me, understanding literally every day. When I talked to him, it was difficult to take that kind of decision, but he felt like it would be best for me,” he said at the time.
Lawal said Nwabali’s decision to keep the matter private was deliberate, as the goalkeeper was not ready to discuss his personal struggles publicly.
“You ask why he and the club didn’t publicly say he was taking time off for his mental health. But it wasn’t something they planned together. Stanley simply realized he needed to step away, and he asked to be released.
“People deal with things differently. At that time, he didn’t want to tell anyone what he was going through. He believed he could handle it himself. Sometimes you want to appear strong, but inside you’re suffering.
“These are private matters. He doesn’t owe anyone a detailed explanation about his personal life until he is ready to. Not everyone wants to make those things public, and people should respect that.
“It had nothing to do with the league, feeling bigger than the club, or receiving offers from elsewhere. He did it for himself so he could return to playing at the level he is capable of. He had a mutual understanding with the chairman of Chippa United, Siviwe ‘Chippa’ Mpengesi,” he said.
Lawal said the loss of his parents and grandmother affected Nwabali deeply, adding that footballers often face struggles away from the public eye. He added, “It has been very difficult for Stanley.
“People don’t always know what is going on with these players. They only see them on the field. They know them as footballers, but they don’t know that they are human beings too. Like everyone else, they go through life’s challenges.
“After losing his parents, he became responsible for everything. There was a lot he needed to take care of. As a professional, he knew he had to keep playing, but it was affecting him and if he continued, he was going to destroy himself because when you’re not in the right mental state, it shows.
“You could see it during some of his games for the national team. People probably thought he was fighting with his teammates.”
Lawal said Nwabali’s change in temperament during recent international matches was linked to what he was going through privately.
He stated, “If you look back, you’ll see the difference. Stanley used to be lively and always smiling. During the last AFCON and the World Cup qualifiers, he became unusually aggressive. He was shouting at teammates and confronting opponents. But that wasn’t the real Stanley.
“When he first started playing for Nigeria, everyone talked about how calm he was under pressure. Later, people thought he had become overconfident or aggressive. They didn’t know what was happening inside him.”
The representative also revealed that Nwabali received several offers during his time away but chose not to return until he was mentally prepared.
“There were many offers for him, and people thought those deals fell through. They didn’t. “Stanley just decided he wasn’t ready to go back into football at that time. He needed to step away, grieve, deal with everything, and come back in a better state of mind.
“There was serious interest from Saudi Arabia, Africa even England, but once we explained the situation, they understood. Stanley decided to stay out of the game for a few months and get himself in order.”
Lawal said Nwabali also sought professional support during his break and received encouragement from Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, who maintained communication with him.
“Now Stanley is ready. He’s more than ready. He’s taken the time he needed, and the national team coach Eric Chelle also supported him throughout the process, communicating with him constantly.
“He had people who believed in him and gave him the space to heal.
“People only realize these things after tragedies. They start looking back and saying the signs were there all along. Sometimes a person simply needs someone to ask how they’re really doing. You can be physically okay but not mentally okay,” he stated.
Lawal said the positive relationship between Nwabali and Chippa United made his return possible.
“He maintained a good relationship with Chippa United. The chairman understood his situation because Stanley explained everything. If Stanley had left after fighting with the chairman or forcing his way out, the club would never have welcomed him back.
“Because they understood why he needed to leave, they were happy to receive him again. That’s why he’s back, and there’s no better place for him to restart than Chippa United.
“Another reason why he returned to Chippa United is because they already know him. If he had joined a new club after being out for several months, they would only know him as a goalkeeper, not as a person. They wouldn’t understand everything he had been through.
“At Chippa, everyone knows him. They understand him. Instead of starting from the bottom in a new environment, he is returning to a place where people know who he is. That gives him the best chance to get back to the level he was at before,” he said.
Nwabali, who became a household name after his impressive showing for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, will now begin a new chapter with Chippa United as he returns to competitive football.
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