Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali stepped away from football earlier this year after the devastating loss of both his parents and his grandmother within a short period, with the emotional toll forcing him to prioritize his mental health before making a surprise return to South African side Chippa United.
According to ESPN, the 29-year-old rejoined Chippa United five months after leaving the club by mutual consent in February, ending months of speculation over the reasons behind his unexpected departure.
At the time, neither Nwabali nor Chippa United disclosed why they had agreed to part ways.
The goalkeeper only hinted during an interview with South Africa’s Metro FM that he needed to do what was best for his wellbeing.
“It is best you are being comfortable and enjoying the moment,” he said to Metro FM. “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.”
ESPN reported that Nwabali’s representative, Mohammed Lawal, revealed the goalkeeper’s departure was not simply an exit from Chippa United but a complete break from football to cope with grief and protect his mental health.
Nwabali lost his grandmother shortly before Nigeria’s 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin Republic.
His father, Chief Godspower Nwabali, died hours after the goalkeeper featured in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw in that match, while his mother, Grace Nwabali, passed away on January 1, 2025.
Lawal told ESPN the triple tragedy left the Super Eagles goalkeeper emotionally overwhelmed.
“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.”
He added, “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.”
According to Lawal, the emotional strain was reflected in Nwabali’s behaviour on the pitch during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers and AFCON campaign, where some observers interpreted his aggression as frustration.
“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.”
Lawal also disclosed that those close to Nwabali advised him to take a break before his career suffered further.
“We told him, ‘This isn’t you. Take time away before you do permanent damage to your career’.”
Although speculation surrounded his exit, Lawal insisted the goalkeeper chose to keep his struggles private.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Lawal also revealed that Nwabali rejected several offers during his time away from football.
“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.”
According to ESPN, Nwabali sought help from a mental health professional during his break and also received regular support from Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle.
Lawal said the goalkeeper is now ready to resume his career.
“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.
“We have seen it with players who were here and one day and the next day they were gone.”
Lawal said Nwabali’s positive relationship with Chippa United made his return straightforward.
“He maintained a good relationship with Chippa United,” said Lawal. “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.”
