Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali featured for Chippa United as they succumbed to an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at home to South African league champions Orlando Pirates, Soccernet.ng reports.
After a long break last season, Nwabali returned to Chippa United in the summer. And he has since regained his starting shirt at the club.
He featured in the Chilli Boyz’s first two games of the season against Golden Arrows and Richards Bay which they drew. But with league champions Orlando Pirates visiting the Sisa Dukashe Stadium, they knew that they had a tough task ahead of them.
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Nwabali did well in thr first half, as he faced 13 shots, but he saved the three that were on target.
The second half, however, was when the madness started. The reigning South African champions continued to dominate the game in the second half, and Nwabali had to make an early save in the 49th minute.
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But he would eventually falter in the 60th minute. After a nice interchange of passes in Chippa United’s final third, Gamphani Lungu go a clear sight to fire at goal from inside the box. He struck the ball towards the bottom-right corner of the goal.
Nwabali was close to it and was expected to make a routine save. Indeed, the Super Eagles goalkeeper got his hand to it, but the ball went through his hand and bounced into the net.
Goal Orlando Pirates
1-0Ghampani Lungu Has Opened The Score Against Chippa United!!
Right Off Nwabali Into The Net!#OnceAlways || #BetwayPrem pic.twitter.com/e9OsOU7ZYL— INEOS Fokof TREBLE TROUBLE (@TmCiteilife) August 16, 2026
That apparently affected Chippa United, as just four minutes later, Lebone Sema scored the second the second for Pirates. He got on the end of a corner kick and headed home, leaving Nwabali helpless in goal.
The reigning South African champions had more opportunities to score, and they eventually took one in the 87th minute through Daniel Msendani who dispossessed a Chippa United defender in a dangerous area to go one-on-one with Nwabali. The 25-year-old South African striker made no mistake from close range and he dispatched the ball into the net to make it 3-0.
Watch Chippa United vs Orlando Pirates Highlights
Why Super Eagles GK Nwabali Was Rated 6.4
According to Sofascore, Super Eagles goalkeeper Nwabali had a 6.4/10 performance against Chippa United. He made five saves on the afternoon, an 87% pass accuracy, and two clearances.
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Unfortunately, his mistake was what opened the floodgates for Orlando Pirates to stay scoring goals. If he had saved that first goal from Lungu, the result might have just been different.
The result was Chippa United’s first loss of the season, and Nwabali will be looking to produce a better showing when his Chippa United side face Siwele in the next league game on August 25.
