Former Super Eagles midfielder Duke Udi has publicly called on Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle to omit goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali from national team selection until the shot-stopper resolves his clubless status, arguing that current form and active employment should be mandatory criteria for any call-up.
Nwabali’s situation has drawn significant attention within Nigerian football circles. Despite being one of the standout performers at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco — where he kept three clean sheets across six matches as the Super Eagles claimed bronze — the 29-year-old departed South African club Chippa United after the winter transfer window closed, leaving him without a club and raising questions about his international future.
With Nwabali unavailable, Chelle turned to Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, and Adebayo Adeleye during March international friendlies against Jordan and Iran, giving all three goalkeepers playing time. The experimentation has added weight to the ongoing debate about whether Nwabali should retain his place in the squad hierarchy.
Speaking ahead of the 2026 Unity Cup fixtures scheduled to take place in London, Udi addressed the issue directly in an interview with Brila, framing his argument around the selection philosophies of more successful footballing nations. “We need to learn from the English and Senegalese national teams,” he said. “Sometimes when you do things your own way and it’s not working, you have to look at those doing it better and learn from them.”
The 49-year-old former midfielder was emphatic that reputation and historical contribution should carry no weight in the selection process. “If you look at the Senegal national team, they pick players based on merit and who is in form. You must prove yourself to get called up,” Udi continued. “Every Nigerian who wants to play for the Super Eagles should be chosen on merit, not based on where he comes from or who he represents.”
Udi was equally direct when addressing Nwabali’s specific circumstances. “The national team isn’t a rehabilitation centre. Nwabali isn’t a bad goalkeeper, but for now he is clubless, so how do you bring a clubless player into the national team? As I always say, ‘I get am before no be property’ [past glory isn’t a current asset]. You should always pick based on form,” he concluded.
Nwabali, who has earned 34 caps for Nigeria, remains without a club at the time of writing. According to reports, South African giants Kaizer Chiefs and Tanzanian side Simba SC have both shown interest in the goalkeeper, though no official transfer agreement has been announced by any of the parties involved.
The Unity Cup, which brings together African nations in London, represents an important early test for Chelle as he continues to shape his squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. How the French-Malian coach manages the goalkeeping position — balancing loyalty to an established performer with the practical demands of match sharpness — will be closely watched by supporters and analysts alike. Okoye, who plays his club football in Europe, is widely regarded as the frontrunner for the number-one shirt in the immediate term.
