'Maduka Okoye was afraid to play for Nigeria again' - Udeze

Former Nigerian international Ifeanyi Udeze has weighed in on the status of Watford goalkeeper Maduka Okoye within the Super Eagles set-up. 

Okoye is one of the 24 Nigerian internationals currently camping in Oran, Algeria ahead of their international friendly against the Desert Foxes of Algeria.

The 23-year-old makes a return to the Super Eagles set-up for the first time since the ill-fated 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament earlier this year in Cameroon.

Okoye's last appearance for the Super Eagles ended with an error from the then Sparta Rotterdam shot-stopper, after fumbling a long-range shot that led to Tunisia's only goal in the Round of 16 fixture of the AFCON 2021 tournament.

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Afterwards, Okoye failed to take part in the double-header World Cup qualifier against Ghana after reportedly returning a positive test for COVID-19 and he also missed the first two 2023 AFCON qualifiers due to a shoulder injury.

However, Udeze has suggested that the 'anger and fear' that Okoye had from the Tunisia game might have contributed to his reluctance to feature for the Super Eagles again.

As reported by Soccernet, Udeze said: "The medical report from his club then in Holland stated that he had a shoulder injury which saw him miss a lot of games.

"Anger and fear could also have led to his not being available because he was not born here."

Okoye was subjected to cyberbullying on social media platforms after Nigeria's ouster from AFCON 2021, with many blaming the 23-year-old for the shock defeat against Tunisia.

Udeze noted that this type of reaction might be strange to the Netherlands-born goalkeeper who was playing in only his first major tournament for the Super Eagles.

"He was born abroad and over there, they have ways they do things. He (Maduka Okoye) was threatened. You don’t blame him. That’s where the anger and fear as well came from," Udeze concluded.

Maduka Okoye is in contention to start between the sticks for the Super Eagles when they face Algeria on Tuesday, September 27 for their friendly.

However, the Watford goalkeeper faces stiff competition from Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper Francis Uzoho as well as new invitee Adebayo Adeleye who plies his trade at Israeli first-division side Hapoel Jerusalem.