Okoye Edges Towards Dream As Eagles’ First Choice Goalkeeper

Every professional has a dream to accomplish that is why a 20-year old German-born Nigerian, Maduka Okoye who mounted the goalposts in two friendly matches between Nigeria and Algeria as well as Nigeria and Tunisia is already feeling realizing his dream of becoming Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper. 

As a professional goalkeeper, Okoye had dreamt of donning Nigeria green white green jersey and his dream became reality when in October 2019 he debuted for Nigeria in a high profile friendly game against five-time world champions, Brazil though as a substitute where the game ended in an impressive 1-1 draw. 

He was on for 90 minutes for Nigeria in another high profile friendly encounter between Nigeria and the reigning Africa champions Algeria on October 9 and Tunisia on October 13, 2020 respectively. Algeria piped Nigeria by a lone goal while they recorded a 1-1 draw against Tunisia. The former Fortuna Dusseldorf of Germany goalkeeper who was born to a Nigerian father and a German mother pledged his international future to Nigeria instead of Germany, saying that ‘he felt more Nigerian than German.’ 

To consolidate his position at the Super Eagles team, the young lad had penned a two years contract for Sparta Rotterdam where he hoped to command the first team jersey and by implication that of the Super Eagles. On his move to Sparta Rotterdam, Okoye said, “I think this is the right place for me towards preparing for the biggest step in the future. I can’t just wait to get started with the guys. “They told me their plans for me and everything sounded great, so, that’s why I chose here. As I said, this is the right place for me and I feel home already. 

“I expect a lot from myself; I have to work hard and fight for the no. 1 spot and also give my best,” he added. Okoye has since earned further call-ups for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho. But the question will be, can Okoye dislodged the likes of Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezinwa, Dele Alampasu among others?