Nwabali Stepped Away From Football Due to Grief, Mental Health Struggles – Representative

Nwabali Stepped Away From Football Due to Grief, Mental Health Struggles – Representative

Sampson Adedeji

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali temporarily stepped away from football to cope with overwhelming grief and protect his mental health following the loss of his grandmother, father and mother within a two-month period, his representative, Mohammed Lawal, has revealed, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Speaking exclusively to ESPN, Lawal explained that Nwabali's decision was not only to leave South African club Chippa United but also to take a break from football as he struggled with the emotional impact of the devastating family tragedies.

"It has been very difficult for Stanley," Lawal said.

According to Lawal, the losses had a noticeable effect on the goalkeeper's personality and behaviour on the pitch, although many fans were unaware of the emotional burden he was carrying. 

"If you look back, you'll see the difference. Stanley used to be lively and always smiling. During the last AFCON and the World Cup qualifiers, he became unusually aggressive.

"He was shouting at teammates and confronting opponents. But that wasn't the real Stanley," Lawal explained.

 "When he first started playing for Nigeria, everyone talked about how calm he was under pressure.

 "Later, people thought he had become overconfident or aggressive. They didn't know what was happening inside him."

Nwabali rose to prominence with his outstanding performances for the Super Eagles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he played a key role in Nigeria's run to the final.

Lawal said the goalkeeper's decision to step away from football was necessary to allow him to process his grief, focus on his mental wellbeing and gradually recover from one of the most difficult periods of his life.