Nwabali Took Break from Football After Family Tragedies, Agent Reveals

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali temporarily stepped away from football to focus on his mental health after losing his grandmother, father and mother within two months, his representative, Mohammed Lawal, has revealed.

Speaking to ESPN, Lawal said the emotional pain from the tragic losses forced the Nigerian international to take a break from the game and leave South African club Chippa United as he tried to cope with his grief.

“It has been very difficult for Stanley,” Lawal said.

Lawal explained that the personal losses had a major impact on Nwabali’s behaviour, both on and off the pitch, although many supporters did not know what he was going through.

He said the goalkeeper, who was once known for his cheerful personality and calmness, became unusually aggressive during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

“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,” Lawal said.

He added that many fans wrongly believed Nwabali had become overconfident, without realising the emotional burden he was carrying.

“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,” he explained.

Nwabali became one of Nigeria’s top performers during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, helping the Super Eagles reach the final with a series of impressive displays.

According to Lawal, taking time away from football was an important step in helping the goalkeeper deal with his grief, protect his mental wellbeing and begin recovering from one of the most difficult periods of his life.