Stanley Nwabali confirms free agent status after leaving Chippa United

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has confirmed he is currently without a club after mutually terminating his contract with South African outfit Chippa United.

Stanley Nwabali, 28, revealed he has not signed with any team yet, stressing that the decision to leave was based on personal peace and career progression rather than pressure from the club.

“To be honest with you, I don’t have a club or a contract in front,” Nwabali told SABC Metrofm.

“It’s an agreement that both parties will feel at peace, we wish each other well and I can look forward to my career. I’ve been at this club for four years, and it’s really nice working here, but we all really need to move forward as players or managers.

“Football deals with happiness, my happiness comes first.”

Nwabali recently lost his starting role at Chippa United to Dumisani Msibi, who has kept four clean sheets in four league matches since returning from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, the Nigerian international insisted the change in goalkeeping hierarchy was not the reason behind his departure.

“No, it’s not like that. Before I went for AFCON, I was injured, let me say, from the Pirates game and I was trying to fix myself for coming back strong for the team and also go to AFCON,” he explained.

“So coming back from AFCON, it’s an understanding between the chairman and me, you’re coming back from a bigger tournament and have been playing for one month, ok, you really need to rest for like one or two games.”

He added that his relationship with the club’s leadership remained positive throughout his four year spell.

“That was before the decision was made, and ever since I arrived at this club, we have been talking like father and son, understanding literally every day,” Nwabali said.

“So, as I said, when I talked to him, yes, it was difficult to take that kind of decision, but he feels like it’s probably going to be best for me, which, as I said, I made this decision by myself.”

Meanwhile, multiple reports indicate that Nwabali is expected to complete a move to Moroccan giants Raja Club Athletic, although no official announcement has been made.