Garba Lawal calls for Maduka Okoye to be Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper

Former Nigerian international Garba Lawal believes that Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye should request the Super Eagles’ No. 1 spot ahead of Chippa United shot-stopper Stanley Nwabali.

​Okoye reportedly opted out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco after he could not be guaranteed the first-choice role for the tournament.

Lawal, quoted by SCORENigeria, believes Okoye is within his rights to demand the position because he is the superior goalkeeper.

“Okoye has every right to ask to be the Super Eagles No 1 especially if he believed he is a better goalkeeper than Nwabali.

“I also believe he is a better goalkeeper, he plays in a bigger league and for a bigger team.”

Okoye was Nigeria’s starting goalkeeper for the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon. However, he had been largely absent from the national team since they were knocked out of the tournament’s Round of 16.

Meanwhile, Nwabali has been the first choice since the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire (played in 2024) and has established himself as the top shot-stopper of the Super Eagles, currently manning the posts at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

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