Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, is facing a race against time to be fit for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, with his club coach, Vusimuzi Vilakazi, casting serious doubt over his availability.

The 29-year-old Chippa United shot-stopper has not featured for the South African side since Nigeria’s penalty shootout loss to DR Congo in the CAF 2026 World Cup Continental Playoff held in Morocco. He has since missed league fixtures against Orlando Pirates, Siwelele FC, and Kaizer Chiefs, prompting concerns about his fitness.

Vilakazi confirmed the situation in an interview with supersport.com, saying the goalkeeper’s condition remains troubling.

 “I doubt it, looking at the state of his injury,” Vilakazi said.

“I don’t think he will make it, but when I was talking to him, he was confident he will recover very soon. Obviously, you understand, he wants to be at the Cup of Nations finals. But the reality is that he is still injured. I hope for the best that he might still find himself there.”

The coach revealed that Nwabali is battling an ankle injury, while also needing surgery on his hand, an issue he had been playing through before aggravating it during duty in Morocco.

Despite his condition, Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle included Nwabali in his provisional AFCON squad. His final status, however, will depend on his recovery over the coming weeks. He now joins fellow injured Nigerian stars Benjamin Fredrick and Ola Aina on the team’s growing injury list.

Nwabali, who impressed as Nigeria reached the final of the last AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire, risks losing his starting spot to Maduka Okoye if he fails to recover before the tournament kicks off.

The Super Eagles are drawn in Group C, and will open their campaign against Tanzania in Fes on 23 December.