Chippa United’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali lost both parents within a few months in 2024 and says he would have quit the game as a result had it not be for the support of his teammates.
At the Africa Cup of Nations, where Nwabali has been keeping goal for Nigeria, he has been talking about his grief and sorrow after the successive loss of his parents in November and December 2024.
"I tried to move forward and be strong, but sometimes I felt like giving up. At one point, I even told my captain I wanted to quit football but thanks to the support of my teammates, I was able to carry on,” he told reporters at the tournament in Morocco.
added.
"It's so painful to talk about, I feel the pain. They were very dear to me. It's not a pleasant feeling for a footballer, or even for a human being in general, to lose both parents at the same time. They're gone and here I am playing football."
Nwabali had been an injury doubt ahead of the Nations Cup but recovered to play in all three of the Super Eagles’ group matches, which they won.
Having qualified for the Round of 16, Nigeria will face Mozambique on Monday in Fes in the knockout stage of the tournament in Morocco.