Okoye reveals how Super Eagles players kept Salah quiet, speaks on Omeruo and Ekong partnership

Published: January 12, 2022

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has praised the Super Eagles defenders and midfielders for nullifying Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah in Tuesday evening's win versus Egypt.

The Egypt captain was limited to just one clear cut chance but was denied from finding the net in the 72nd minute as Okoye made an instinctive save with his feet.

The Watford loanee, who was not tested until he stopped the effort from Salah, revealed that the Super Eagles players prevented the Egypt number 10 from wreaking havoc by sticking to him throughout the contest.

"Of course he is one of the best players in the world, we also have fantastic defenders, fantastic midfielders so I think you could see today that they were very sharp on him and he almost had no chance," Okoye told reporters.

Key to stopping Salah was the central defensive partnership of William Troost-Ekong and Kenneth Omeruo, with the latter making a rare start for the Super Eagles as a result of the unavailability of recuperating Glasgow Rangers star Leon Balogun.

"It was great. Omeruo did very, very well, he shone in this game and he was very important for us.

"We have to continue to give our best for the country, for our families, and then we can reach very, very far," added Okoye.

The 22-year-old Okoye has now kept an impressive eight clean sheets in fourteen career appearances for the Super Eagles.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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