Maduka Okoye rains praise on fellow Nigeria national team goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye praised current Nigeria's number one custodian Stanley Nwabali on his performance and contributions to the national team.

Despite currently playing second fiddle to Nwabali, the 25-year-old asserted that he remains focused, optimistic, and respectful of the current Super Eagles no one achievements.

In an interview with Flashscore, Okoye opened up on his respect for Nwabali who was not available for Super Eagles 1-1 draw with Russia, giving Okoye the chance to start in goal on Friday.

After mounting the sticks for the three-time Africa champions, he expressed his happiness on his call up, acknowledging Nwabali's form for Nigeria:

"Just enjoying every moment and waiting for my chance. We know what Nwabali has done for our country. He's a very good goalkeeper and I think he deserves it because I never got to the level I have with the Super Eagles. I never brought my quality to the game, unfortunately."

Okoye also admitted to past inconsistencies at the international level as he is focused on regaining his top form for the Super Eagles.

"I pray and hope to achieve the same level of success with the national team as I have at club level because I think there's nothing greater than defending the goal of a country, especially a country like Nigeria. So, I just have to be ready when the chances come."

He first received a call-up to the Super Eagles by then coach Gernot Rohr in 2019 for a friendly match against Ukraine. He made his international debut on October 13 that year, coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 friendly draw against Brazil.

Okoye then fell down the goalkeeping ladder in the Super Eagles, during the aftermath of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). During the Round of 16 match against Tunisia, he conceded a goal from a long-range shot by Youssef Msakni, which many perceived as an error on his part. This goal led to Nigeria's elimination from the tournament.

Following this match, Okoye faced significant criticism and pressure on social media. He has since admitted that the incident caused him "sleepless nights" and that he felt he had let down his teammates, family, and country. This period saw him out of the national team for an extended period, with Stanley Nwabali eventually taking over as the Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper with excellent performances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.