Nigerian football legend Austin Okocha has identified Italy based goalkeeper Maduka Okoye as the best choice for the Super Eagles team.
Maduka Okoye was Nigeria’s first choice at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, guiding the team to three group stage victories before a disappointing exit against Tunisia.
However, since the Tunisia defeat, Okoye has been notably absent from the national squad, with coach Jose Peseiro favoring Frank Uzoho as the number one for the past year and a half.
In the build-up to the 2023 AFCON, Peseiro’s goalkeeper choices include Francis Uzoho, Stanley Nwabili based in South Africa, and Olorunleke Ojo based in Nigeria, leaving out Okoye, who plies his trade with Udinese in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
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Okocha expressed surprise at Peseiro’s decision, particularly given Okoye’s international experience and training in Germany and the Netherlands.
The former PSG and Bolton Wanderers playmaker believes omitting Maduka Okoye from the Super Eagles AFCON squad is strange.
“He is the one keeper that has the type of training and football upbringing that we need in a goalkeeper in the national team. But he is excluded. It’s strange,” Okocha conveyed to Osasu Obayiuwana, expressing concern about the management of Okoye following the Tunisia match.
With Francis Uzoho set to maintain his position as Nigeria’s number-one goalkeeper at the upcoming AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, questions linger about the decision-making process and player management within the national team, with Okocha unhappy with the treatment handed to Udinese loanee, Maduka Okoye.
Nigeria will face Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 14, 2024 in their group A opener.
The Eagles continue their campaign with a tough clash vs tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire before taking on qualifying series rivals, Guinea Bissau in the last game of the group stage.
