Maduka Okoye Joins Super Eagles In Portugal After 11-month Absence

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been called up to the Super Eagles for the friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

The coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, had to bring back Maduka Okoye due to the unavailability of Adeleye Adebayo and Olorunleke Ojo.

Okoye returns to the Eagles for the first time since being invited to the international friendly against Portugal in Lisbon in November 2022.

Adebayo, who is stationed in Israel, will have to reroute his journey due to the crisis between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group, and Ojo is yet to have a visa to enter Portugal, where the friendlies will be played.

Cyprus-based Francis Uzoho is the only goalkeeper currently present at the Eagles’ training camp in Portugal, hence, the necessity to bring in Maduka Okoye.

Okoye was once the Eagles’ top-choice goalkeeper, but his time with the national team has been marred by avoidable errors and Super Eagles fans’ agitations against him online.

The Udinese goalkeeper has managed to record just six clean sheets in 16 appearances for the Super Eagles.

He will compete with Uzoho for the first team spot when the Super Eagles of Nigeria take on Saudi Arabia at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 13, and Mozambique on the following Monday.

The two friendly games are seen as preparation for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe on November 13 and 20, respectively.