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Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye was in goal for the entire 90 minutes as Udinese pip Como 1-0 in Sunday’s Serie A game.
The Nigerian international who was making his third appearances, had a brilliant game..
Udinese took the lead just before half-time when Florian Thauvin sent Ehizibue down the right and he floated in a cross for Brenner, but as he was slipping over, the volley took a very strange loop to surprise Pepe Reina in off the inside of the near post.
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Como came millimetres from equalising with the last kick of the half, as Belotti flicked on a long ball for Gabriel Strefezza’s strike to shave a coat of paint off the upright.
Maduka Okoye parried a Da Cunha effort at the near stick and gathered a towering Marc Kempf header on a corner.
Como went so close moments later, as another towering Kempf header was cleared practically off the line by Ehizibue.
13 Comments
This man should reclaim his first choice in the SE
You don’t give first team place to a player because he plays for a better team.I have seen players playing for Espanyol that’s better than Sevilla or Barcelona players.Let their form in the national team be used as a yardstick to determine who starts or sits on the bench.Hope you understand from a good point of view.
Form in the national team:
Okoye – 16 caps, 11 goals conceeded, 8 clean sheets
Nwabali – 13 caps, 16 goals conceded, 4 clean sheets (with 7 defenders)
In the words of Ben Bruce, “just want to make sense….!!!”
This is the more reason why we need a professional foreign coach in the SE ASAP.
It is only in Nigeria a 24yr old Serie A regular goalkeeper can be sat on the bench for hatred and sentiment’s sake
Not a good yardstick for measuring in my opinion,Espanyol and Barcelona/Sevilla plays in the la liga but in Maduka’s case Serie A top performing goalkeeper and an average keeper in South African league,please there’s no comparison!
@Martins, you understand how football works. At this stage, people don’t know that Nwabali is way ahead of Okoye.
Okoye doesn’t have the boldness of Nwabali. Bobo is more focused than Okoye.
I love Okoye but,
Okoye still don’t have the commanding acumen when manning the post for Super Eagles.
When it comes to penalties, Nwabali does well in the national team and at his club side.
It is not about playing for a bigger team or a bigger league but it is all about what you can do, your capability.
Sentiment apart, Okoye remains our second choice at the national team period. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Hahahaha….with all the boldness, focus and commanding acumen
Nwabali – 13 caps, 16 goals conceded, 4 clean sheets (with 7 defenders)
Okoye – 16 caps, 11 goals conceeded, 8 clean sheets
Truly, you know how football works. LMAOoo
Some of you think being making noise, yelling at everyone on the pitch and being a showman is goalkeeping…LMAOoo
Indeed you understand how football works….LMAOoo
I thought you and other blatant ignoramuses like you said clubs in Europe will rush Nwabali after keeping goal behind 7 defenders at AFCON until weariness and CIV exposed him in the final….LMAOoo. Another transfer window has ended and not 1 bid has been received from anywhere….LMAOoo…not even from the south african league….LMAOoo
Just half a season in Italy, Okoye was being courted by Roma, Juve and Inter….LMAOoo.
Once again, you really know how football works….infact more than sporting directors of European clubs.
Form in the national team:
Okoye – 16 caps, 11 goals conceeded, 8 clean sheets
Nwabali – 13 caps, 16 goals conceded, 4 clean sheets (with 7 defenders)
In the words of Ben Bruce, “just want to make sense….!!!”
This is the more reason why we need a professional foreign coach in the SE ASAP.
It is only in Nigeria a 24yr old Serie A regular goalkeeper can be sat on the bench for hatred and sentiment’s sake
Dr. Drey, calm down. Everyone knows Okoye is better than Nwabili (though not by a wide margin), but the former has been out of the team for a while. To regain his spot, he will have to prove himself, and we all know he just needs one game to do that. Not everything is about politics. If Okoye comes back and Nwabili immediately goes to the bench, you all will be crying here. Okoye just needs one game, and he will get it.
@Abdul, like when do you think we should give him the so call just one game?
Whenever the coach deem it fit.
@Abdul, point of corruption, Okoye is not better than Nwabali.
Can you tell me in what way Okoye is better than Bobo?
Okoye is unfinished product which is learning and I believe he will be a world class golie in the near future. Give him few years to grow in knowledge.
National team is not a joke and is not a child play. Okoye will get there but he is still not ready for the Super Eagles.
Nwabali serving us with his heart and he can do whatever it takes to protect Nigeria image.
Long story short, Nwabali is better than Okoye in all aspects of the game. Let’s which Nwabali
well my people. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
No evidence…..you go continue to dey explain explain explain till you explain tired.
In what way is Okoye better than Nwabali….you sef see below for yourself if your brain still works
.
.
Nwabali – 13 caps, 16 goals conceded, 4 clean sheets (with 7 defenders)
Okoye – 16 caps, 11 goals conceeded, 8 clean sheets
more than sporting directors of European clubs.
.
.
.
Okoye is indeed not better than Nwabali.
Sentiments will not ruin Nigeria completely.
I’ll rather start now to field a 24yr old Serie A Gk that will be world class in the future, than fielding a 28+x yr old Chippa utd goalkeeper who isn’t even GK of the season yet in the south african league and still hasn’t attracted a single bid from any club from anywhere around the world despite playing a major tournament for Nigeria.
Even Daniel Akpeyi got a move from Chippa utd to a top club like Kaizer Chiefs after participating in an AFCON….LMAOoo
One thing is certain, we must give it to Okoye. He is simply relentless. It’s not easy picking yourself up from the early disappointments and quickly rising to become one of the best goalkeepers in one of the best leagues in the world. At a young age.
His feat is simply remarkable.
If the coaches choose to make Okoye number one over a dedicated Nwabali, I don’t think there will be much uproar, such could be justifiable based on current club performance.
But as I said in an earlier post, this is a ‘good headache ‘ to have for the coaches. As I trust whoever is picked can do a good job. Atleast we are settled in the goalkeeping department.