Maduka Okoye won’t play any game for the senior national team of Nigeria in the three weeks long international break after departing for London earlier today, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
It was planned that the Udinese shot stopper will be in goal for Nigeria in the two AFCON qualifiers games against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau respectively, but his late arrival for the first game in Uyo left head coach Eric Chelle with no choice but to retain Stanley Nwabali as first choice.
Chelle stuck with Nwabali for the second game as a reprimand for Okoye who arrived on the day of the first match, although he was granted a day extra permission due to a club activity. He ended up taking two days extra.
Okoye wasn’t listed for the Russian game , and it was supposed to be the return for Nwabali who hasn’t played for the team since the third place finish at the AFCON. A tournament Okoye opted out of after he was told he isn’t guaranteed to be first choice.
Meanwhile the rest of the team departed Nigeria today for the game on the 6th of October in the Russian capital of Moscow with three goalkeepers in Ikorodu City’s shot stopper Michael Atata and Finland based Samuel James of HJK.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
