William Troost-Ekong believes Stanley Nwabali will soon return to club football, insisting the Super Eagles goalkeeper possesses far too much quality to remain without a team for long.
Nwabali has been a free agent since February after mutually terminating his contract with South African side Chippa United, ending his stay at the club four months before his deal was due to expire.
The 29-year-old made the decision in the hope of securing a bigger move following two impressive Africa Cup of Nations campaigns with Nigeria, including the Super Eagles’ third-place finish at the 2025 tournament in Morocco.
However, the timing of his departure proved problematic with the move occurring outside the main transfer window, opportunities became limited, leaving the goalkeeper without a club and ultimately affecting his standing within the national team setup.
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Speaking during a virtual SuperSport discussion, former Super Eagles captain Troost-Ekong admitted the decision may not have worked out as planned, although he was careful not to judge the circumstances behind the move.
“Obviously, I can’t speak for Stanley, but based on how things have unfolded now, maybe it would’ve been a better decision to remain with Chippa,” Troost-Ekong said.
“That’s me speaking from the outside because, of course, we don’t know what occurred between him and the club.”
Despite the setback, the former Nigeria captain was full of praise for Nwabali’s rapid rise over the last two years.
The goalkeeper established himself as Nigeria’s first choice shot stopper during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and successfully retained that status through another strong continental campaign in 2025, earning widespread recognition for his consistency and commanding displays.
Troost-Ekong described the goalkeeper as one of the most important figures in the current Super Eagles squad.
“I think seeing Stanley’s rise over the last few years has been amazing,” he said.
“I think he’s been the soldier we need for the national team. He had a fantastic AFCON twice in a row, which is very difficult to do.”
William Troost-Ekong has thrown his support behind Stanley Nwabali, insisting the Super Eagles goalkeeper is too talented to remain without a club despite his prolonged spell as a free agent.
The defender also revealed he has remained in contact with Nwabali throughout the challenging period and believes the goalkeeper is doing everything necessary to stay prepared for his next opportunity.
“I’ve spoken to Stanley a lot as well. I know he’s been training, keeping fit. Hopefully, there’s going to be a good opportunity that comes his way now in the summer.”
Nigeria’s goalkeeping department has undergone significant changes in recent months, but Troost-Ekong remains convinced that Nwabali still has a major role to play for the national team moving forward.
“I am sure he’s going to find a club and return back to playing his club football because we need him for the national team,” he added.
“For me, he’s too much of a good goalkeeper to be without a club.”
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