Nwabali shines as Chippa coach praises his talent

Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been called “one of Africa’s best” by Chippa United head coach Brandon Truter. This praise came after Nwabali helped the Chilli Boys win the second Eastern Cape Pre-Season Tournament in South Africa, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Chippa United won the tournament on Sunday. They beat Motsepe Foundation Championship side Highbury FC 4-2 on penalties. This followed a 1-1 draw at the Mthatha Stadium.

Nwabali was the hero in the penalty shootout. He made a crucial save, while his teammates scored all four of their penalties to clinch the trophy.

Truter expressed confidence in his team, saying he knew they would win once the match reached penalties due to Nwabali’s talent. “With Stanley Nwabali in goal, one of Africa’s best, I knew he’d make a save to help us win,” Truter told The Herald.

This tournament win marks a strong return for Nwabali. He recently rejoined Chippa United after being away from the club for five months. The 29-year-old had already shown his skills with a clean sheet in Saturday’s 1-0 semi-final win over Ravens FC. Even though he conceded a goal in the final, his strong performance and key penalty save helped Chippa lift the pre-season trophy ahead of the 2026/27 Betway Premiership season.

Truter, who became the Chippa United coach with one league game left last season, praised his players for their efforts in the tournament. They defeated Ravens FC in the semi-final before beating Highbury FC in the final.

Nwabali has been building his reputation since he shone for Nigeria at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles finished as runners-up in that tournament. His performances have made him one of the top-rated goalkeepers in Africa, drawing interest from clubs outside South Africa in recent transfer windows.