Maduka Okoye is within his rights to demand for the Super Eagles No 1 spot ahead of Stanley Nwabali because he is a better goalkeeper, according to former international Garba Lawal.
Udinese No 1 goalkeeper Okoye opted out of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco after he could not be guaranteed as first choice for the tournament.
“Okoye has every right to ask to be the Super Eagles No 1 especially if he believed he is a better goalkeeper than Nwabali,” Garba Lawal told SCORENigeria
“I also believe he is a better goalkeeper, he plays in a bigger league and for a bigger team.”
Maduka Okoye was Super Eagles No 1 goalkeeper for the delayed 2021 AFCON staged by Cameroon three years ago, while Nwabali has been first-choice since the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire last year.
The Chippa United shot stopper is also No 1 at this year’s AFCON in Morocco.
I concur with Garba Lawal. No competent and reputable goalkeeper ‘s trainer will fumble to pick Stanley ahead of Okoye for number one spot.
Both are good but Okoye is better than Nwabali, moreso Stanley is not 100% for AFCON
Right, okoye is very good &better than Stanley.
Okoye and Nwabali are averagely good goalkeepers, so are the two other goalkeepers in Morocco. When it comes to question of first choice in 2025 AFCON, it was not based on current form but the past. Nwabali’s 2023 AFCON feat and his role in the qualifiers and Okoye’s fumbling in Cameroon as well as his ban on the account of gambling.
Many coaches are weary of players who gamble. Gamblers don’t change.This to me, stares starkly before the selection mirror.
Polite was in a better and high profiled team and was not spotted and a South African based football was scouted, tested and trusted, not by wealth or politics. If anyone in likes of Okocha or others, is fighting against NWABALI now the person is totally an enemy of God’s divine grace and gifts. I believe NWABALI is God sent to Super eagles squad. Nigeria was having Goalkeeper crisis before NWABALI came in the picture and he lead us to AFCON Finals.
Okoye was in a better and high profiled team and was not spotted and a South African based football was scouted, tested and trusted, not by wealth or politics. If anyone in likes of Okocha or others, is fighting against NWABALI now the person is totally an enemy of God’s divine grace and gifts. I believe NWABALI is God sent to Super eagles squad. Nigeria was having Goalkeeper crisis before NWABALI came in the picture and he lead us to AFCON Finals.
Okoye is a fumbler like nwanbali, so why should he want to be no1 goalkeeper of the super eagles after all both keepers are conceding goals heavily in their clubs.
It’s not being in a big league but being in a big club & doing well too.