So long, Too long Okoye

BY IKENWA ASHIBUOGWU NNABUOGOR

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Emilio Okoye returns to the Super Eagles’ sticks June 6 when Russia host Nigeria in Moscow in their first ever international friendly.

Okoye had wandered in the Eagles’ wilderness since his unimpressive showing in the disappointing 1-1 home draw against Cape Verde in 2021.

He would see little of Eagles’ lights last year when he made it back to the goal against Rwanda, as Eagles surprisingly lost to Rwanda 2-1 in Uyo in the 2025 AFCON qualifier to further keep his second fiddle “shirt” behind first choice Stanley Nwabali.

The pains of club inactivity are gone to give way to guarding his area in the Udinese goal again after this match fixing allegations to come “home” again with the Eagles.

Nwabali grabbed his huge chance with both feet and 29 caps already in bag, Okoye will almost have to do the unthinkable to grab his regular gloves back.

The Russia friendly is a massive flicker of hope for the erstwhile embattled keeper but it does appear he will have to return to the bench when the “rightful” owner of the gloves, Nwabali returns to hostilities in the World Cup qualifier in September.

Okoye, toughened by his Udinese’s and Eagles’ circumstances will have to fly, dive, parry and block at every Russian missiles to convince coach Eric Chelle for another look in in September. It may not be a guarantee he’s returning full time to Eagles’ sticks after all.

Though, it will take a massive dose of audacity for Chelle to hand Okoye the gloves in the September/October battles but it will remain to be seen how this pans out.

So long, too long for the deposed Eagles’ glovesman and has to rely on massive showing and incredible consistency to unseat Nwabali.

While Okoye lasted as the numero uno, concerns were palpable especially in areas of his vital area arrangement and management. This is in a sharp direct contrast to Nwabali who seems to have brought his different but assured philosophy along.

Okoye’s confidence was also badly bruised at Watford where he spent the better part of his spell there on the bench.

Along came Nwabali as the gap Okoye left deepened and not even keepers from the local league could rescue the falling Eagles.

Nwabali was gambled on by ex-coach Jose Peseiro as Eagles were at the mercy of opponents, even minnows and the gamble worked wonders.

Moments became years for Nwabali and the Chippa United shot stopper isn’t in a hurry yet to close shop. Okoye’s headache isn’t looking like gone for seeming long time to come as s Nwabali continues to remain the man with the “golden” gloves.

Udinese owed so much to the Seria A survival to Okoye’s heroics as he kept a multiple clean sheets to keep the coastal city with the big boys.

Nevertheless, he may have to continue to sing and promote his cover song of Majek Fashek’s So Long, Top Long because Nwabali isn’t buying him a bottle of beer yet.