Maduka Okoye has revealed the reasons behind his decision to turn down an invitation to feature for Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), DAILY POST reports.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper, who was a surprise omission from the squad that competed in Morocco, missed the start of the 2025/26 season due to a suspension linked to an alleged involvement in a betting scandal.
Speaking to Kicker, Okoye explained that his choice to skip AFCON was motivated by a desire to focus on regaining his fitness after a period away from competitive football. He also stressed the importance of repaying Udinese for supporting him during a challenging time.
“Since I was not Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, I believed it was better to remain at Udinese, work on my form, and also show appreciation to the club for standing by me during a difficult period,” he said.
Okoye’s decision has been viewed by analysts as a professional and pragmatic approach, prioritising his long-term career development and maintaining strong ties with his club while preparing to regain his top form.
The goalkeeper is expected to be back in action for Nigeria when the Super Eagles face Iran in an international friendly in Antalya, Turkey, scheduled for Friday. This fixture is seen as an opportunity for Okoye to demonstrate his readiness and secure his position as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper ahead of future competitions.
His return is highly anticipated by fans and football pundits alike, who believe that Okoye’s presence will strengthen Nigeria’s goalkeeping options as the national team prepares for upcoming international fixtures and the build-up to the 2027 World Cup qualifiers.
