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Super Eagles: Maduka Okoye eyes return to No. 1 spot, ready to compete with Nwabali

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Super Eagles: Maduka Okoye eyes return to No. 1 spot, ready to compete with Nwabali

By Wale Mustapha

Nigerian international Maduka Okoye has declared his readiness to reclaim the Super Eagles’ number one jersey, stating he is prepared to challenge current first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali for the position.

Okoye, 25, impressed in Nigeria’s 1–1 draw against Russia in an international friendly on Friday, making a strong case for his return to the top of the pecking order.

The Udinese shot-stopper was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper heading into the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, but fell out of favour following a disappointing performance at the tournament.

He was subsequently dropped from the national team setup as he struggled to regain form at club level.

However, a recent resurgence in the Italian Serie A has seen Okoye regain his place in the squad and deliver a solid performance against a resilient Russian side in Moscow.

Okoye acknowledged Nwabali’s contributions but emphasized his ambition to return to the top.

“Of course, we know what Nwabali has done for our country. He’s a very good goalkeeper and I think he deserves it,” Okoye speaking to Flashscore after the match.

“I never got to the level I have now with the Super Eagles. I really hope that I get to my level, and he deserves to play right now.

“But I think there are always going to be some chances and opportunities, and I just have to be ready when they come.”

Stanley Nwabali rose to prominence during the 2023 AFCON, where he played a key role in guiding Nigeria to the final.

Despite stiff competition, Okoye’s renewed form could present Super Eagles coach Finidi George with a healthy selection dilemma ahead of upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

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Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
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