Super Eagles stars Olisa Ndah and Stanley Nwabali featured prominently in Orlando Pirates’ hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chippa United at Orlando Stadium.
Ndah, who captained Orlando Pirates for their South African Premier League opener, and Nwabali, playing for Chippa United, were key players for their teams, having been integral in previous seasons. Expectations were high for both Nigerians as they kicked off the new campaign.
Chippa United took the lead in the 22nd minute through Abdile Jali, but Nwabali was beaten in stoppage time of the first half when Tshegofatso Mabasa earned and converted a penalty to level the score for Orlando Pirates just before the break.
In the second half, Orlando Pirates pushed hard for the winning goal, with Ndah even attempting a shot, but it wasn’t enough to trouble Chippa’s goalkeeper. However, their persistence paid off late in the game when Monnapule Saleng found the back of the net, securing all three points for the Pirates.
Despite being on the losing side, Nwabali stood out for Chippa United, making five saves, four of which were from inside the box, earning him recognition as the team’s best player in the match. On the other side, Ndah delivered a strong performance for Orlando Pirates, boasting a 95% pass accuracy and blocking two shots.
