'Proved it in the Afcon' - Okoye ready to compete with Nwabali for Super Eagles number 1 spot 

Maduka Okoye has revealed that he is ready to compete with Stanley Nwabali for the first-choice goalkeeper position of the Super Eagles ahead of the imminent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

After a long hiatus from the national team, the Udinese gloveman is back into the squad, following his resurgence in form with Serie A outfit Udinese, helping them to keep their top-flight status last term.

He has had to compete with Stanley Nwabali for a spot in the starting lineup but the latter is the chosen first choice presently due to his form at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Chippa United gloveman has made it difficult for the former Watford shot-stopper and Fasil Ketema FC new boy Amas Obasogie to get a look in.

Answering the question on the quality of the goalkeeping department in an interview, Okoye has acknowledged the brilliance of the other two shot-stoppers and has declared readiness to compete with him Nwabali for the starting berth. 

" Like you said, we have top goalkeepers. Stanley proved it in the Afcon and for me, it is also great to share the pitch with them you know and train together with them and the very good goalkeeping coach and yeah it is always good," Okoye said to Victor Modo.

The 25-year-old arrived in the Super Eagles camp yesterday ahead of the qualification games against Benin on Saturday and Rwanda next week, making him the last goalkeeper to arrive in camp.

Despite the change in personnel in the technical department, it is difficult to see the coaching staff led by Austin Eguavoen dumping Nwabali for Okoye in the forthcoming games 

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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