Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has been called up for Nigeria’s international friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique following Adebayo Adeleye’s unavailability. The goalkeeper returns to national duty for Nigeria for the first time since November 2022.
The 24-year-old is yet to play for Udinese in the Serie A this season, where he is on loan.
The game, scheduled for Friday in Portimao, Portugal, is only the second time both countries will clash at the senior international level.
The only previous encounter was also a friendly, played in the Alpenstadion, Wattens in Austria on May 25, 2010, as part of final preparations for the Eagles for the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa. Incidentally, the current Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Jose Peseiro, was the Coach of Saudi Arabia that day.
Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen, Alexander Iwobi, and 18 other players arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Faro, Portugal, on Wednesday. Enyimba goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke is in Lagos and waiting for his Portuguese visa, while Adebayo Adeleye might miss the games due to the war in Israel.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will know their AFCON 2023 opponents on Thursday when the draws for the competition, which will be held in Ivory Coast between January and February 2024, are done.
Nigeria is in pot two alongside Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Congo DR, and they could be drawn alongside the hosts, Ivory Coast and Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt, who are in pot one.
PLAYERS IN CAMP
Francis Uzoho, Tyronne Ebuehi, Kenneth Omeruo, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Jordan Torunarigha, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Chidozie Awaziem, Bruno Onyemaechi, Wilfred Ndidi, Raphael Onyeka, Joe Aribo, Alexander Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Sadiq Umar, Terrem Moffi, Victor Boniface.
PLAYERS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE
Frank Onyeka, Kelechi Iheanacho, Fisayo Dele Bashiru.
THE DIFFERENT POTS
Pot 1: Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt
Pot 2: Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Congo DR
Pot 3: South Africa, Cape Verde, Guinea, Zambia, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania
Pot 4: Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Gambia, Tanzania.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
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