Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye expresses his regret at not having a career equivalent to that of Manuel Neuer after being relegated to the bench following a decisive error during CAN 2021 in Cameroon.
The Udinese goalkeeper was the main choice during the AFCON 2021, where his team finished the group stage brilliantly by winning three out of three. However, the Super Eagles were eliminated in the round of 16 by Tunisia (1-0) due to an error by Okoye.
Okoye notes that people continue to support Manuel Neuer despite his mistakes, as he has achieved a lot for Bayern Munich and Germany, while he is yet to show his best performances with the national team and hopes to have the The opportunity to redeem himself and give his all for Nigeria, a dream he always had.
At 24, the young goalkeeper is aiming to reclaim his starting position ahead of Stanley Nwabali, the current Super Eagles goalkeeper. Okoye says he wants to be the one to take Nigeria to the World Cup and bring home the trophies, although he knows it won’t be an easy task. He admits he hasn’t been at his best but wants to give his all for his country.
To surpass Nwabali, aged 28, and holder during the CAN 2023 final in Ivory Coast, Okoye will have to make considerable efforts. Currently, Nwabali, goalkeeper of Chippa United in South Africa, is the one who led the Nigerian team in this competition.
Photo credit: Maduka Okoye’s official X account.
