Thursday, May 2, 2024

Okoye injured, may miss AFCON roster

Uba Group

BY ANDREW EKEJIUBA

Sparta Rotterdam star, Maduka Okoye, might be facing a spell on the sidelines, few weeks before the Nigeria Football Federation announces the Super Eagles final roster for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon.

The injury suffered by Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, is already causing Nigeria a headache, Leon Balogun has been inactive for Rangers in their last two matches due to an undisclosed aliment and Okoye has now joined the duo in the treatment room.

Watford-bound goalkeeper Okoye had to be substituted midway through the first half in the Eredivisie clash between Sparta Rotterdam and Ajax Amsterdam on Sunday.

The Nigeria international was replaced by Benjamin van Leer after a suspected shoulder injury meant he couldn’t complete the game at Sparta Stadion.

Okoye came off worse in a collision with Ajax Amsterdam number 9, Danilo and attempted to continue the game but was eventually substituted.

The 22-year-old started five of the six matches played by the Super Eagles during the group stage of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, posting three clean sheets.

He is currently ahead of Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi in manager Gernot Rohr’s pecking order of goalkeepers.

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