- Maduka Okoye, thrilled to rejoin the Super Eagles, returns due to his impressive season with Udinese, keeping five clean sheets
- Okoye, absent since October, faces competition from Stanley Nwabali but views the call-up as an honour for him and his family
Maduka Okoye, the goalkeeper for Italian club Udinese, is thrilled to be recalled to the Super Eagles. He was included in Finidi George’s 23-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin.
Okoye had been absent from the national team since October last year when he declined an invitation to play in international friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. This decision followed backlash from fans over his mistake in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final loss to Tunisia.
His return is due to an impressive season with Udinese. His remarkable performances in goal helped the team maintain its position in Serie A. Okoye, kept five clean sheets, and played in 22 matches across all competitions, his highest since the 2021–2022 season.
After Udinese’s recent close win against Frosinone, Okoye expressed joy at rejoining the Super Eagles. He told the press, “I am very happy to return to the national team. It is a great honour for me and my family to play for Nigeria. But in the meantime, Alé Udin!”
Okoye has not played for the Super Eagles since the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where his error led to Tunisia’s victory in the round of 16.
He also discussed his role in helping Udinese stay in Serie A. “Playing in Serie A is very important for the city and the club. I’m happy, I’m feeling a lot of emotions right now,” he said. “It was important for us to give a nice permanence, wasn’t it to father Gianpaolo Pozzo. It’s important for me, I can still work on many things. I have a great coach, I will improve further in the future.”
Okoye now faces competition for the starting position from current number one, Stanley Nwabali. He may need to accept a backup role in the squad. Nonetheless, his call-up is a positive development for Okoye and the Super Eagles.
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