Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has expressed his delight upon his recall to the Super Eagles team, having been named by Finidi George in his 23-man squad to face South Africa and Benin in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Okoye has not been called for national team duties since last October when he got the invitation for the international friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique respectively.

The 24-year-old recall stems from the wonderful season he has had for Udinese, helping the club keep their Serie A status with his brilliant performances in goal.

He featured in 22 games across all competitions which is the most he has had since the 2021/2022 campaign and also kept five clean sheets throughout the course of the season.

Speaking after Udinese secured a slim victory over Frosinone yesterday, the former Watford shot stopper revealed his excitement upon returning to the Super Eagles squad.

“I am very happy to return to the national team. It is a great honor for me and my family to play for Nigeria,” Okoye told Udinese’s official website.

Since making a howler in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 clash against Tunisia, Okoye hasn’t played for the three-time African champions despite being in the matchday squad on three occasions after that incident.

It remains to be seen whether George will be willing to trust him for any of the forthcoming games particularly with the presence of the reliable Stanley Nwabali.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid