With Nwabali Doubtful, Is Maduka Okoye Ready for the No. 1 Shirt?

With Nwabali Doubtful, Is Maduka Okoye Ready for the No. 1 Shirt?

By Our Reporter 

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu has expressed confidence in Udinese shot-stopper Maduka Okoye as a capable replacement should first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali fail to recover in time for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

Agu shared his views in an interview with Footy Africa, noting that Nigeria’s goalkeeping department remains strong despite injury concerns hanging over Nwabali.

“I hope all is not lost, but we need to pray for Stanley to recover and participate with his colleagues,” Agu said. “However, we have other good goalkeepers in the team, including Maduka Okoye. All we need to do is trust them and give them confidence. I’m sure the goalkeepers know what they have to do when they get the opportunity to play.”

Nwabali, who has established himself as Nigeria’s number one and plays for Chippa United in South Africa, has been nursing ankle and hand injuries sustained during the World Cup qualifying play-off defeat to DR Congo last month. The 29-year-old, capped 27 times, was a key figure in Nigeria’s run to the final of the last AFCON, where they finished as runners-up to Ivory Coast.

Chippa United head coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi has cast doubt on Nwabali’s chances of returning soon, revealing that the goalkeeper requires a period of recovery for his ankle as well as surgery on his hand. “I doubt it, looking at the state of his injury. I don’t think he will make it,” Vilakazi said. “He is confident he will recover very soon, but the reality is that he is still injured. I also hope for the best.”

With Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle set to announce his final 27-man AFCON squad in the coming days, Okoye remains one of several options available. Others include Amas Obasogie, Francis Uzoho and teenage prospect Ebenezer Harcourt.

Okoye, 26, has enjoyed a resurgence at Udinese since returning from suspension in October. He has made eight Serie A appearances, keeping seven clean sheets and recording 18 saves with a 62.1 percent save rate. He also impressed with a penalty stop in a recent fixture against Bologna. Although he has had limited involvement with the national team since the 2021 AFCON, Agu believes he possesses the composure and ability required to perform at the tournament.

Nigeria will compete in Group C at the 2025 AFCON, opening their campaign against Tanzania in Fez on December 23, before taking on Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda on December 30. Their preparations have been further complicated by the absence of several key players, including defenders Benjamin Fredrick, Felix Agu and Ola Aina, while captain William Troost-Ekong has recently announced his retirement from international football.