AFCON 2023: Injured Nwabali Cleared to Face Angola

Injured Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been declared fit to face the Palancas Negras of Angola in Friday’s quarter-final clash at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

The former Lobi Stars shot-stopper was a major doubt for the game after sustaining a mild ligament injury in the Super Eagles’ Round of 16 victory against Cameroon on Monday.

After having a personal training session with the medics on Tuesday, he underwent a scan on Wednesday, and the results indicated that there was no serious injury to Nwabali.

He is expected to return to goal on Friday, though Coach Jose Peseiro has indicated he may not want to risk the goalkeeper if he is not fit enough for the tie.

Nwabali has conceded just once in four appearances for the Super Eagles at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.

Meanwhile, CAF has named Senegalese official Issa Sy as the referee for the match. Sy will be assisted by compatriots Djibril Camara and Nouha Bangoura as assistant referee 1 and assistant referee 2, respectively, alongside Mauritanian official Abdel Aziz Bouh as the fourth official.

Modibo Samake from Mali will serve as the reserve assistant referee, while Ahmad Nazeer Hossen Bowud from Mauritius and Ali Mohamed Ahmed from Somalia will take on the roles of commissioner and referee assessor, respectively.

The match, which will commence at 5 pm Cote d’Ivoire time (6 pm Nigeria time), will be another of the rare occasions that Nigeria and Angola tangle on the turf, with few clashes between both nations at the senior level over the years.