Contrary to widespread belief that Maduka Okoye was rested for Nigeria’s final African Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho on Tuesday, the goalkeeper was infact not well to feature.
Francis Uzoho of APOEL Nicosia of Cyprus made his return to the Super Eagles after over a year away in a 3-0 victory against Lesotho at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State.
A whole lot of football fans and pundits alike actually believed that the Super Eagles chief coach, Gernot Rohr only decided to rest Okoye so as to give chance for rotation in his squad.
But news reached Complete Sports on Wednesday afternoon from Sparta Rotterdam that Okoye did feel slighly unwell and was asked to stay out and not get involved in the fixture on Tuesday.
Sparta tweeted: “Okoye did not act Tuesday night. The goalkeeper did not feel well and so, it was decided not to line him up with Nigeria which had already qualified for the African Cup.
“He is doing better now and he just expects to be there on Saturday.” Sparta Rotterdam will this weekend host PEC Zwolle in a Dutch Eredivisie encounter at the Sparta Stadion Het Kasteel.
Okoye appears to have cemented his place as the Super Eagles first-choice goalkeeper after yet another commanding performance for Nigeria against the Republic of Benin last week Saturday.
The Sparta Rotterdam of the Netherlands shot-stopper did not have much to do, though but gave a very good answer when called upon after saving well off a shot from Benin ace, Steve Mounie.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin