Maduka Okoye withdraws from Super Eagles matches

Stories By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye have once again, withdrawn from the Super Eagles upcoming matches slated for end of May and early June. 

The Watford FC of England safe-hand have been asked to be excluded from the 30-man Super Eagles list to face Mexico and Ecuador

Okoye who is set to link up with his new Watford teammates who have been demoted to the English Championship, last week guided his team, Sparta Rotterdam out of relegation in the Netherlands Eredivisie 

According to reports, Okoye have communicated to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, that he won’t be available for the two friendly matches.

However no reason was given for his absence per the time of filing in this report. Fueling talks of the goalkepper potentially quitting the national team.

Okoye was largely targeted by a section of the Nigerian fans and media after the team’s round of 16 exit at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon with many blaming him for the goal Tunisia scored, which decided the game.

Since after the tournament he hasn’t represented Nigeria as he made a last minute decision to shun the World Cup playoffs against Ghana which ended Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the showpiece in Qatar.

It was further gathered that he will also miss the start of the AFCON 2023 qualifiers with Nigeria to take on Sierra Leone in Abuja before making the trip to play Mauritius.

His absence has opened the door for the duo of Akwa United Adewale Adeyinka and Ojo Olorunleke to stake a claim for the number one spot of the team

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old goalkeeper is set to be named Watford FC first team safe hand after Ben Foster announced that he would not go the Championship with the club.

Ben Foster confirmed he will be leaving Watford at the end of the season paving the way for Maduka Okoye to become the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.