Agu backs Okoye for Eagles No. 1 spot

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Former Super Eagles goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu has backed Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye to step in as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations should Stanley Nwabali fail to recover in time for the tournament, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Agu, who worked with the national team for several years, told Footy Africa that the Super Eagles could rely on Okoye’s quality if required.

“I hope all is not lost, but we need to pray for Stanley to recover and participate with his colleagues,” he said.

“However, we have other good goalkeepers in the team, including Maduka Okoye. All we need to do is trust them and give them confidence. I’m sure the goalkeepers know what they have to do when they get the opportunity to play.”

Nwabali, Chippa United’s goalkeeper and Nigeria’s regular number one, has been struggling with ankle and hand injuries since the World Cup qualifying play-off defeat to the DR Congo last month.

The 29-year-old, who has 27 caps for Nigeria, was first choice during the last AFCON where the Super Eagles finished runners-up to Ivory Coast.

Chippa United coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi expressed doubt over Nwabali’s chances of making a quick return, revealing that the player requires both recovery time for his ankle and a hand operation.

He said, “I doubt it, looking at the state of his injury. I don’t think he will make it, but when I was talking to him, he was confident that he would recover very soon. But the reality is saying for now, he is still injured. I also hope for the best that he might find himself there.”

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is expected to announce his final 27-man squad for the tournament in the coming days. Alongside Okoye, goalkeepers Amas Obasogie, Francis Uzoho and teenage goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt are available for selection.

Okoye, 26, has returned to form at club level since his suspension in October, making eight Serie A appearances for Udinese, keeping seven clean sheets and making 18 saves with a 62.1 per cent save rate.

He also demonstrated his penalty-saving ability in a recent Serie A match against Bologna. Despite limited national team appearances since the 2021 AFCON, Agu believes Okoye has the quality and temperament to step up if called upon.

Nigeria are drawn in Group C, opening their campaign against Tanzania in Fez on December 23, before further matches against Tunisia and Uganda on December 27 and 30 , respectively.

The team’s preparations are further complicated by the absence of key players, including defenders Benjamin Fredrick, Felix Agu and Ola Aina, while captain William Troost-Ekong has announced his international retirement.

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