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By Ebenezer Bajela.
PUNCH Sports Extra has exclusively gathered that Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, considered taking a break from the national team following attacks from fans after some underwhelming performances with the team.
The Watford goalkeeper was blamed for his role in Nigeria’s exit at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon last year after the Eagles suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tunisia to crash out of the tournament.
Okoye failed to save Youssef Msakni’s long-range strike two minutes after the break as the Carthage Eagles booked a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament at the expense of Nigeria, who were tagged favourites ahead of the encounter, after winning all their three group games.
The 23-year-old came under scathing criticisms again from fans following his error in Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Algeria’s B team in September.
Okoye was handed a rare start in the encounter eight months after his self-imposed exile from the team, after his mistake in the round of 16 of the delayed 2022 AFCON in Cameroon.
The former Sparta Rotterdam goalie was punished by Algerian striker, Karim Aribi, for an error from him after he tried to dribble the forward rather than clear the ball after receiving a back pass from one of his defenders.
Okoye was not in action as the three-time Africa champions played the Algeria national team and Portugal, both in friendly encounters.
A source in the national team has however revealed to PUNCH Sports Extra that the goalkeeper is going through a difficult time with the Eagles and doesn’t look interested in donning the country’s shirt.
“There was a time we learnt no one could get across to him before the team secretary left him a message, but he pleaded to focus on his new club, Watford,” the source said.
“We also learnt that the coach and the goalkeeper trainer called him after our friendly games in the US, but he asked for time, before he turned out for the game in Algiers.
“Many of us have shown him love and made him feel important to the team, we also made him understand how passionate Nigerians are when it comes to football because the same fans that hail you today when you do very well will also chastise you when you don’t meet their expectations.”
Our source added, “We told him to take up the challenge but one thing that is obvious is that we can’t blame him because he grew up in Europe and it is strange for him to see his own people booing and abusing him. We tried to let him understand that is how things are here in Nigeria, that goalkeepers are usually used as scapegoats.
“But things didn’t work out well with the back pass in the game against Algeria, leading to a goal. He was attacked by fans again. The next day during training he said he was injured and from all indications, it seemed like his problem was more of a psychological issue and he felt there was nothing he did that Nigerians would appreciate.
We understand that he confided in some people that he was not feeling good about the team. The best thing is to let him focus more on his club now and maybe come back to the national team later.
“It’s been very difficult for him to get over the abuses after the AFCON because he loves the fans and felt disappointed with the treatment he received.”
Apart from his misery with the national team, the young goalkeeper has not had much luck since his move to England.
At club level, it hasn’t also been rosy for the shot stopper.
A year since he signed for the Hornets, Okoye has only made two appearances, both in the Carabao and FA Cup, conceding four goals in the process.