Follow Us on GoogleSuper Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has spoken about his howler in the round of 16 clash against Tunisia in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Two minutes into the second half, Youssef Msakni fired a shot from outside the penalty area which Okoye should have done better with but couldn’t and that resulted into a goal for Tunisia and led to Nigeria’s exit from the tournament.
His howler didn’t go down well as he came under huge scrutiny and hasn’t featured in any game for the Super Eagles since then but has been as a substitute on five occasions.
Speaking to OmaSports TV on the incident, the German-born shot-stopper spoke regrettably about the incident and revealed how he has moved on since then.
“When I looked back at that moment, I knew I had to do better. It pains me till today. This is the first time that I really talk about it,” Maduka Okoye said.
“You can see it as a mistake because I had to keep the ball out of the goal.
“I don’t want things like this to happen because. Mistakes happen. We look back one week where you see Manuel Neuer, one of the best is making mistakes. You know it is part of the game.
“It is hard for me as a young boy to go through what happened, and I am not talking about what I heard and read on social media.
“It is more about letting your teammates, family and country down. I am not reading what people write on social media.
“People still say bad things about Cristiano Ronaldo. People will always say a bad thing about you. I know myself that I didn’t do well in that situation, and I know I let my country and teammates down and I am still sad to this day and I wish it had been different.
“But it happened and I learned from my mistakes. The most important thing was that I could go on and I think that I am in a better position now than back then.”
Okoye yet to forget 2021 AFCON error
28 June 2024 12:37 am WAT
By
Rapheal
Okoye
