Stanley Nwabali’s period of unemployment since leaving Chippa United appears to be drawing to a close, with reports linking the Nigerian international goalkeeper to two of Africa’s most prominent clubs — Simba SC of Tanzania and South Africa’s Kaizer Chiefs.
Nwabali has been a free agent since departing the South African Premier Soccer League side following the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which concluded in January. Despite his standout performances for Nigeria at the tournament and reported interest from clubs including Saudi Arabian side Al Ettifaq and English Championship outfit QPR, no concrete transfer materialised, leaving one of the continent’s most recognisable goalkeepers without a club for an extended period.
According to reports, Simba SC — a regular presence in the CAF Champions League and widely regarded as one of the wealthiest clubs in African football — are looking to strengthen their squad and have identified Nwabali as a target. Kaizer Chiefs, meanwhile, have long been credited with an interest in bringing the goalkeeper back to the PSL, where he previously established himself as one of the division’s top shot-stoppers during his time at Chippa United.
The prolonged delay in securing a new club is believed to be a function of timing rather than a shortage of interest. With the majority of African domestic leagues currently in their final stages, clubs are broadly expected to conclude their transfer business once the current campaign wraps up. That timeline positions Nwabali for a potential move in the coming weeks.
For either Simba or Chiefs, the prospect of acquiring a goalkeeper of Nwabali’s profile on a free transfer represents a considerable advantage. The absence of a transfer fee lowers the financial barrier significantly, making the deal more attractive from a club perspective.
Nwabali, who turns 30 later this year, also has personal motivation to secure a high-profile club. Having served as Nigeria’s undisputed first-choice goalkeeper across consecutive AFCON tournaments, the former Enyimba and Katsina United stopper has seen Maduka Okoye assume the number one shirt under new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle in recent outings. A move to a prominent club, with regular competitive football, would strengthen his case for a recall to the national team setup.
Nwabali’s rise through Nigerian football — from Katsina United to becoming a key figure at back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations — underlines the calibre of player both Simba and Kaizer Chiefs would be acquiring. His availability on a free transfer, a rarity at his level, makes the situation one of the more notable goalkeeper stories on the continent heading into the next transfer window.
