Nigeria’s preparations for their upcoming friendly against Jordan have suffered a setback after first-choice goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was ruled out of the March 31 encounter in Antalya, Turkey.
The Udinese shot-stopper picked up a thigh injury during Super Eagles training, forcing him to miss the clash. The 24-year-old has been a key figure since his international debut in 2021, earning 15 caps and delivering crucial saves during Nigeria’s run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final.
According to reports, the Udinese goalkeeper, who has been replaced by Stanley Nwabali, will now focus on recovery ahead of more competitive fixtures. Nwabali, who emerged as a hero during the 2023 AFCON with four clean sheets, is now expected to start between the posts.
The change provides an early test of the team’s goalkeeping depth as the technical crew assesses options beyond their regular number one.