Operation Okonkwo: Arsenal GK has been a target for Nigeria, recommended by Pinnick to ex-Super Eagles coach 

The issue of a reliable goalkeeper has become a major talking point in Nigerian football circles ahead of the start of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and 2026 World Cup qualifiers, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The jury is out on Omonia Nicosia glovesman Francis Uzoho as a credible goalkeeper following his schoolboy errors in Nigeria's last two internationals against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. 

The top candidate fans and pundits have in mind to solve the Super Eagles goalkeeper crisis is SC Freiburg's Germany U21 international Noah Atubolu but even Jose Peseiro has admitted that it would be difficult to convince him to switch his nationality from Germany to Nigeria. 

Another goalkeeper highly touted by the fans is Arsenal-owned player Arthur Okonkwo who has earned first-team experience at Crewe Alexandra, Sturm Graz and Wrexham. 

Alllnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that the Hale End Academy graduate has been a target for the Nigeria Football Federation. 

Former Nigerian Federation boss now Fifa Council member, Amaju Pinnick  - an advocate of players with dual nationality - recommended Okonkwo to Gernot Rohr few years back. 

Rohr admitted that he had Okonkwo on his radar but told Pinnick the Arsenal goalkeeper was too young to be invited to the senior national team. 

Having come of age, Okonkwo is the most feasible option in the search for a reliable goalkeeper considering the fact that Atubolu is leaning towards playing international football for his country of birth, Germany. 

It is understood that the 22-year-old Okonkwo does not need to be convinced to play for the Super Eagles as he is just waiting to be called up by the Nigerian Federation.  

Okonkwo has represented England at U15, U16, U17 and U18 levels with all the youth team caps earned in friendly matches. 

He has kept nineteen clean sheets in 49 games as a professional and has been named in Arsenal's match day squad for English Premier League games on seven occasions. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: wrexhamafc.co.uk

Copyright ANS

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com