Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye asked to be left out of the Super Eagles squad for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, OwnGoalNigeria.comcan exclusively reveal.
The 24 year old staged a return to the Nigerian team when they played against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in two international friendly games before the start of the world cup qualifiers. He was drafted in as cover with doubts over the availability of two of the three invited goalkeepers.
After the games , which first choice Francis Uzoho was in goal he was invited to the team for the start of the world cup qualifiers, but he declined the invitation leading to Amas Obasogie of Bendel Insurance coming in as his replacement.
Ahead on the AFCON head coach of the team Jose Peseiro spoke with the former number one on the need to let go of any hard feelings he suffered, when the Super Eagles crashed out of the last 16 at the AFCON in Egypt losing 0-1 to Tunisia leading to online insults and death threats.
Okoye was blamed for the goal that saw Nigeria exit the tournament and since then he hasn’t played for the team. Peseiro thought he could talk him out of it but it didn’t yield any positives.
He insist on staying away from the team to focus on his club career at Udinese, although he could be back in the team in the future to add to his 16 senior caps for Nigeria.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
