Nigerian football icon, Austin Okocha, has raised eyebrows with a scathing critique of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and top officials of the national team for their treatment and snub of Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye.
Maduka Okoye was Nigeria’s first choice at the 2021 African 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.
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 a major error.
“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.
Nigeria will face Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, January 14, 2024 in their group A opener.
