Maduka Okoye: Victor Agali reveals how he discovered keeper

Former Nigeria international Victor Agali has revealed how he discovered goalkeeper Maduka Okoye for the national team.

The 26-year-old played for Fortuna Düsseldorf 2 during his formative years where he was discovered by Agali.

Agali, who is capped 12 times by the Super Eagles, shared words on how he convinced Okoye to play for Nigeria.

Maduka Okoye plays for Udinese

“I was with his father in Düsseldorf; I was in the stadium watching him play for the second team.

“At that time, the coach of Fortuna Düsseldorf was my former coach, so I had access and went to watch the game,” Agali said as quoted by Pulse Nigeria.

“The boy said yes, he would love to play for Nigeria, but not the Super Eagles. He was ready for U17 or U20.

“People had the players they wanted in the team, but I tracked talents across Europe. That’s how we found players like Okoye.”

Okoye was invited to the Nigerian U23 Team for the 2019 African U-23 Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya U-23 but failed to make a debut due to club engagement.

He made his international debut in 2019 as a substitute in a friendly match against Brazil which end 1-1.

The Germany born was named in Nigeria’s squad by Augustine Eguavoen for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon where Nigeria exited in round 16 after losing 1-0 to Tunisia.

Okoye’s club career includes stints at Dutch side, Jong Sparta Rotterdam and English club Watford.