Charlton Athletic of England goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo may not be a sure bet to start for Nigeria in Friday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar, Sports247 gathered.
Although the former Arsenal of England shot-stopper appeared to have cemented his place in the Eagles’ starting line up during this year’s conquest of the Unity Cup in London, he is already getting a tough contest at the team’s current camp in Uyo.
This is sequel to equally good form being displayed in training by Udinese of Italy’s Maduka Okoye and Stanley Nwabali, who is back at Chippa United of South Africa after a long period of estrangement.
With Nwabali and Okoye also enjoying rave reviews at their respective bases, many Nigerian football fans believe they will give Okonkwo a stiff challenge in the tussle for who starts against Madagascar on Friday.
The ongoing stiff contest among all three shot-stoppers during the Eagles’ training sessions in Uyo, has also become a topic for debate on social media, with an attendant inference that Okonkwo will not stroll into Nigeria’s starting spot for the game at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium Stadium.
A post by Entertainment tv set the debate in motion with a piercing question, “Who should be Nigeria’s next number 1 goalkeeper: Nwabali, Okoye, or Okonkwo? The Super Eagles’ goalkeeping battle is heating up!
“Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Arthur Okonkwo; three goalkeepers. One starting spot. With their current form, experience and competition, who should become Nigeria’s undisputed No. 1 goalkeeper? Nwabali, Okoye or Okonkwo?”
Sports247 reports further that the question was left hanging without any answers appearing in readers’ comments, but it tacitly created suggestion of a tough battle for Okonkwo in Uyo.
However, feelers from the Eagles’ last training session on Wednesday evening indicate that the former Wrexham of Wales keeper might still get the nod from Eagles’ head coach, Eric Sekou Chelle due to his youthfulness.
