Super Eagles interim coach Augustine Eguavoen has shown compassion by granting goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali leave from camp following the heartbreaking loss of his father. The tragic news reached Nwabali shortly after Nigeria’s 1-1 draw against Benin in the AFCON qualifiers on Thursday.

Several teammates, including William Troost-Ekong and Alex Iwobi, extended their condolences to the grieving goalkeeper. With Eguavoen’s support, Nwabali returned to Nigeria to be with his family. However, it remains uncertain if his South African club, Chippa United, will grant him additional time off.

In his absence, Udinese’s Maduka Okoye is poised to reclaim the starting goalkeeper role for Nigeria’s upcoming match against Rwanda. Once Nigeria’s first-choice shot-stopper, Okoye has been sidelined recently due to costly errors in previous games.

The fixture against Rwanda, a dead rubber, offers an opportunity for Eguavoen to rotate the squad and give game time to fringe players. This match marks the Super Eagles’ final engagement for the year before shifting focus to the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2025.