Izuchukwu Okosi
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has expressed his desire to make a comeback to the Nigerian national team following the decision of head coach Jose Peseiro to drop him for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, Prime Business Africa reports.
Okoye, the younger brother to Nigeria’s afropop singing sensation, Peter and Paul Okoye, professionally known as ‘Psquare’ was widely blamed in 2021 by a section of Nigerian fans for the goal that Tunisia scored that ultimately eliminated the three-time African champions from that year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSince the incident, the Udinese goalkeeper who is making huge strides in the Italian Serie A, has made only one appearance for the Super Eagles but his recent great form has made him one not to be overlooked.
Okoye was recently awarded the Man-of-the-Match in Udinese’s 2-1 win over Juventus and pressure are reportedly being mounted on coach Jose Peseiro to recall him.
Okoye in an interview with the official website of Udinese restated his commitment to the Nigeria cause and admitted that it was hard to watch his international teammates play at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I am very well now. I feel 100 percent. The national team is an important thing for me and I want to return as soon as possible,” Okoye said.
“It was hard watching the Africa Cup of Nations from home, but this is football,” Okoye told the Zebra’s website.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
