The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it is still waiting for official confirmation from FIFA regarding goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo’s change of international allegiance from England to Nigeria.
Reports earlier this week suggested the switch had been approved after Okonkwo was listed on FIFA’s portal as a player eligible for Nigeria on Tuesday. However, the NFF says it has yet to receive a formal communication from world football’s governing body.
NFF Head of Media and Communication Ademola Olajire exclusively told Footy-Africa that the federation is aware of the update but is awaiting official documentation:
“We are yet to receive official notification from FIFA.”
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Idah Peterside welcomed the potential addition of the Wrexham shot-stopper, describing it as positive competition for places:
“Well, every time we get a player to play for Nigeria, it’s good news. I think we’re almost 220 million people and we want to win trophies, no matter how we win them, especially with our own citizens. I’ve seen the goalkeeper—I saw him play, I think in the FA Cup or something, in one of the FA Cup games. And, well, Nigeria is a big country; we have some good goalkeepers that are coming out now.”
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If confirmed, Okonkwo’s availability would increase competition for the number one shirt, with Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and Adebayo Adeleye already in contention under head coach Eric Chelle.
“Like I said, the competition is absolutely good. And again, we are seeing that our foreign-born players want to come back to Nigeria; it’s a good omen for us, and I don’t mind bringing in as many as possible,” he continued.
“We have three good goalkeepers now in Nigeria—really three good goalkeepers. We still have Okoye, we have Stanley, and we have Francis [Uzoho] as well. So, I think in that department we do not lack; we really, really do not lack. So, we have a great team now. It’s quite unfortunate that we didn’t go to the World Cup, or else the world would have seen what we have.”
“But well, we’re still building, we’re still believing that the AFCON is coming, the qualifiers are here. So once opportunities avail themselves, we will see how well he can do if he’s invited.”
Okonkwo conceded five goals in Wrexham’s 5-1 defeat by Southampton on Tuesday, but Idah cautioned against judging the goalkeeper on a single performance.
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“For a goalkeeper, sometimes one game is not good enough to determine how good a goalkeeper is. But he has to come to camp, we have to see him play constantly,” he concluded.
