Udinese of Italy goalkeeper, Maduka Emilo Okoye has confessed that he has long awaited a return to the number one spot in Nigeria’s national team, and he will grab that opportunity whole heartedly on Monday.
Sports247.ng gathered that Okoye, who was born in Dusseldof, Germany on August 28, 1999, is billed to start in goal for the Super Eagles against Rwanda, in their last match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
This is a sequel to the permission of absence granted Nigeria’s recent first choice in goal, Stanley Nwabali, following the death of his father on Friday, thereby ruling him out of Monday’s game in Uyo.
In Nwabali’s absence, the next top ranking shot-stopper in the Eagles’ camp is Okoye, who lost his place in the stating line-up following a howler by him that saw a long distance shot from Ghana’s Thomas Partey slip into the net right under his arms at Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja and ended Nigeria’s hope of being at Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Okoye now has a chance to redeem his image at home on Monday, and the well travelled keeper has admitted it is a golden opportunity for him, especially as it is the first match after the Eagles sealed their qualification to AFCON 2025.
Okoye said with glee, “It’s a big achievement, and the AFCON is always great fun. It’s good for us, the players, and for the whole country.
“This is the moment I’ve been waiting for. I’ve been coming to camp for a long time and now, finally, I have a chance to play again.”
The mulatto goaltender, whose Nigeria debut was an international friendly 1-1 draw against Brazil that was played on October 13th, 2019, added that it would be wonderful playing in front of the home fans in Uyo on Monday.
“I am thankful. I cannot wait to put on the jersey again and play in front of the Nigerian fans at home in Nigeria,” said the lanky star, who is on course for his 17th cap at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He concluded by looking ahead with great expectations at the next AFCON, which he believes Nigeria can win, after placing second at the last edition earlier this year in Cote d’Ivoire.
“We can do the same thing again and even better at the next AFCON.
“We can reach the final again for sure. This is what we want; this is what we are looking for.
“We want to win the AFCON, and I am pretty sure that we have the possibility to do that,” concluded the former Dusseldof of Germany, Sparta Rotterdam of Holland and Watford of England goalie.
