Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle don explain why im no invite goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for di two 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Tanzania. Chelle tok say im selection no base on personal relationship but on wetin im see both on and off di pitch.
“The national team is not close to him or anyone. I made my choice and when I made my choice I made it around the pitch and outside it,” na so Chelle talk during im pre-match press conference. Im words show say di coach dey look beyond reputation or club status when e dey pick players.
Okoye, wey dey play for Italian Serie A club Udinese, don dey missing from recent Super Eagles squads. Oda goalkeepers wey Chelle consider include Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho and Arthur Okonkwo. Di Super Eagles dey prepare for two crucial Group L encounters against Tanzania as dem want strengthen dia position for di 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Okoye omission come amid renewed concerns over im repeated late arrivals to national team camp. For September international fixtures, e report to camp for Uyo on di morning of di opening qualifier against Madagascar, making am di last player to join. E miss team preparations because e bin attend Udinese third-kit presentation at Milan Fashion Week. Chelle confirm say im grant Okoye permission for di club engagement but later express displeasure over di late arrival.
Before dat one, for June 2024, Okoye bin among di last players to report ahead of Nigeria World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic. Former Super Eagles midfielder Victor Ikpeba talk on SuperSport Monday Night Football say discipline and punctuality must remain fundamental for anybody wey wan represent Nigeria.
“Competitions bring the best from players. Discipline is very key. A player that comes a day before the match, people are still asking why he is not invited. I was there before, in the 90s, nobody comes a day to the match, you stay at home,” Ikpeba talk.
Sports broadcaster Olawale Adigun also back Chelle decision. For di Social Plus Podcast, Adigun talk say no player suppose take im national team position for granted. “Nothing is assured with the national team. It was important for Eric Chelle to make a statement, and that was not calling him up, which I am supportive of,” na so e talk. Even though Adigun describe Okoye as Nigeria strongest goalkeeper in terms of club profile and point to im regular Serie A appearances, e still insist say di goalkeeper need show greater commitment to international duty.
Okoye bin get long absence from Super Eagles between 2022 and June 2024 before e return to international contention. Dem also omit am from Nigeria squad for 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, but e bin dey rebuild im international career after impressive performances against Poland and Portugal in June. For now, Okoye focus go dey on im club performances while Super Eagles turn attention to Tanzania challenge.
