Chippa United goalkeeper Stanley Nwabili is keen on reviving his international career with Nigeria ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
Nwabili has been in the international wilderness for more than two years, with his last and only cap for the Super Eagles earned in an international friendly against Mexico on July 4, 2021.
The 27-year-old did not cover himself in glory during the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, having conceded four goals.
Nigeria have something of a goalkeeper crisis on their hands ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations with Francis Uzoho a shadow of himself in recent national team games due to a lack of game time at Omonia Nicosia.
Udinese glovesman Maduka Okoye has been inactive in the Serie A and Hapoel Jerusalem’s Adebayo Adeleye has been heavily criticized for his performances this season so much so that manager Ziv Arie has dropped him from the starting lineup since the league restarted.
In the search for a reliable goalkeeper, Super Eagles manager Jose Peseiro was in South Africa this weekend to run the rule over Nwabili and he impressed the Portuguese football tactician, keeping a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Golden Arrows.
“I wish to get a call-up but it’s not compulsory,” Nwabili told reporters.
“It’s not because of my performance because everyone is doing well in different clubs; other goalkeepers have been doing well in their clubs.
“If you are called up to your national team, kudos to you but I wish to represent my own country. I wish to wear my country’s jersey. I wish to wear it again.
“I went there before and I wish to wear it again in a nice tournament. That’s my wish.”
After securing another shutout against Golden Arrows, Nwabili has now kept seven clean sheets in the South African top-flight while conceding 10 goals in thirteen appearances.
