Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle defended goalkeeper Maduka Okoye following Nigeria’s international friendly against Poland on Wednesday at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw.
Chelle addressed criticism of Okoye after the Udinese keeper conceded during the match, which ended 2-2. Speaking through an assessment quoted by Owngoal and reported by NPFL Updates on June 5, Chelle said those blaming Okoye “didn’t watch the game” and insisted the goal “can beat any goalkeeper in the world.” He added that Okoye “kept us in the game” and stated, “I am happy with his performance and that’s all that matters.”
Okoye started in goal for Nigeria against Poland, getting the nod ahead of Arthur Okonkwo and Francis Uzoho, according to team news released before kickoff.
The match was part of Nigeria’s June international window as the team builds toward upcoming competitions. Chelle, who took charge earlier this year, used the fixture to assess his squad after recent friendlies against Iran and Jordan. The coach said the team would approach the game with a winning mentality.
The defense of Okoye comes amid ongoing debate over Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper. Stanley Nwabali has been out of club action since leaving Chippa United in February 2026, while Chelle has rotated options including Uzoho, Okonkwo and Okoye.