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• To arrive camp Thursday
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle and his technical crew will have to make do without Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for the bulk of Nigeria’s preparations, with the shot-stopper only expected to arrive in camp on Thursday just hours before the Super Eagles’ Group L qualifier against Madagascar.
Chippa United’s Stanley Nwabali and Charlton Athletic’s Arthur Okonkwo were the only goalkeepers present when 23 players reported for Chelle’s first training session on Tuesday, September 22, as the team began preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Nigeria Football Federation had named Nwabali, Okonkwo and Okoye as the three goalkeepers for the qualifying window, but Okoye’s delayed arrival means Chelle will have spent almost the entire build-up without his most in-form international goalkeeper.
Okoye’s absence from early training leaves Chelle to lean on Nwabali and Okonkwo through the bulk of the week’s sessions. Nwabali’s return gives the coach an experienced option between the posts — the Chippa United man was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2025 AFCON, saving two penalties against Egypt as the Super Eagles claimed bronze. His recall to the squad marks his first involvement in the national setup since that campaign, having been left out of Nigeria’s most recent international assignments.
Okonkwo, on loan at Wrexham, has also been handed a big opportunity following his strong displays during Nigeria’s Unity Cup campaign, and could be in line for his competitive debut against either Madagascar or Guinea-Bissau.
Okoye, however, remains the most experienced of the trio on the international stage, having started both of Nigeria’s June friendlies — playing the full 90 minutes in the 2-2 draw with Poland and the 2-1 defeat to Portugal. Whether his late arrival will affect his readiness to feature against Madagascar remains to be seen, with Chelle expected to assess his fitness and match sharpness once he finally links up with the squad.
