Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, has admitted he is not yet on the same level as Nigeria’s preferred goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, but the Udinese man has welcomed a healthy competition with the South Africa-based keeper, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Okoye returned to the sticks for Nigeria during Friday’s 1-1 draw in an international friendly against Russia, his first start for the country since the ill-fated 2021 AFCON round of 16 game against Tunisia on January 23, 2022.
Since then, the keeper has taken a break from international football before returning for bench roles last year.
Against Russia, the 25-year-old impressed with three strong saves as the Super Eagles played out a 1-1 draw at the Luzhniki Stadium.
Before that game, he was on the bench as Nwabali was in goal during the 2025 Unity Cup but was excused from Eric Chelle’s team as he returned to Nigeria to complete his parents’ burial.
After the game, the keeper told Flashscore about the competition between him and Okoye.
“Of course, we know what Nwabali has done for our country. He’s a very good goalkeeper and I think he deserves it because I never got to the level I have with the Super Eagles,” the former Watford goalkeeper said in an interview with Flashscore.
“I never brought my quality to the game, unfortunately. I haven’t reached that point yet. I pray and hope to achieve the same level of success with the national team as I have at club level because I think there’s nothing greater than defending the goal of a country, especially a country like Nigeria.
“So, I really hope that I get to my level and he deserves to play right now, but I think there are always going to be some chances and opportunities, and I just have to be ready when they’re coming.”
Okoye’s next chance with the Super Eagles will be in September when Nigeria take on Rwanda and South Africa in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.
