Maduka Okoye: Why I Skipped AFCON 2025

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has revealed why he opted out of Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The 26-year-old, who was serving a suspension at the start of the 2025/26 season over alleged involvement in a betting scandal, explained that he chose to remain with his club Udinese to rebuild his fitness and repay their support during his absence.

Speaking to German publication Kicker, Okoye admitted that his decision was influenced by his role in the national team.

‘Since I was not Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, I believed it was better to remain at Udinese, work on my form, and also show appreciation to the club for standing by me during a difficult period,’ he said.

Okoye was a notable absentee from Nigeria’s AFCON roster, but he has since been recalled by coach Eric Chelle for the upcoming international friendlies against Iran and Jordan, signaling his return to the national setup.