Former Super Eagles goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu in an exclusive interview with Footy-Africa has backed Maduka Okoye to be Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations if Stanley Nwabali fails to recover in time for the tournament.
Agu, who worked with the national team for several years, believes Udinese goalkeeper Okoye is a worthy replacement.
“I hope all is not lost, but we need to pray for Stanley to recover and participate with his colleagues,” he exclusively told Footy-Africa.
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“However, we have other good goalkeepers in the team, including Maduka Okoye. All we need to do is trust them and give them confidence. I’m sure the goalkeepers know what they have to do when they get the opportunity to play.”
“Respect Troost-Ekong’s decision”
Agu, who won the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria in 1994, also reflected on the recent shock retirement of captain William Troost-Ekong.
The former goalkeeper believes the squad has players capable of filling the void created by Ekong’s departure:
“Ekong has done so well for Nigeria, and he’s somebody I know very well. He’s humble and disciplined. He has made his decision, and I think he should be respected for it. Now that he has decided to pass the baton, I hope the coaches pick the right person to lead the team. I believe there are many players who can do the job. Captains differ in their approach, but we hope the next person will also do a fantastic job.”
Nigeria heads to AFCON after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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The team will also be without several key players, and many observers have downplayed their chances of winning the tournament in Morocco.
But Agu believes the Super Eagles often perform best when expectations are low.
“When it comes to football, you have to be optimistic; otherwise you shouldn’t even be involved. Going to the AFCON, the Super Eagles must remove all negativity and believe in themselves and in God. They have to go there and play for the badge and for the entire country. You can’t write off the Super Eagles. Remember 2013 — no one gave them a chance, yet they won the trophy. Sometimes the team performs better when no one believes in them because you can’t predict football. But the question is: are they willing to play to their potential and give everything they have?” he concluded.
Vilakazi’s injury
Nwabali’s participation is in doubt after Chippa United coach Vusimuzi Vilakazi revealed the goalkeeper is struggling with ankle and hand injuries.
He has not played since Nigeria’s defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in their World Cup qualifying play-off in Rabat last month.
“I doubt it, looking at the state of his injury,” Vilakazi previously told supersport.com. “I don’t think he will make it, but when I was talking to him, he was confident he would recover very soon. Obviously, you will understand — he’s a player, and he wants to be there at the Cup of Nations finals.”
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Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is preparing to name his final squad for the competition, with Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie, Francis Uzoho and teenage goalkeeper Ebenezer Harcourt available for selection.
Nigeria are in Group C and will face Tanzania in their opening match in Fes on 23 December, before further games against Tunisia and Uganda.
