Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has revealed why he chose not to take part in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The 26-year-old, who was notably absent from Nigeria’s squad, explained that he made the decision to focus on regaining full fitness after missing the start of the 2025/26 season due to suspension over an alleged betting scandal.
Okoye also noted that he felt a sense of responsibility to repay Udinese for their support during his time away from competitive football, making it important for him to stay back and rebuild.
“Since I was not Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, I believed it was better to remain at Udinese, work on my form, and also show appreciation to the club for standing by me during a difficult period,” he told Kicker.
Okoye is expected to be in goal when the Super Eagles take on Iran in an international friendly in Antalya, Turkey on Friday (today).