No Nigerian goalkeeper has ever put on the colours of the Netherlands giants, but Sparta's young shot-stopper could be the first to rewrite the history books
Five-time Nigeria international Maduka Okoye is pleased to be attracting the interests of Eredivisie champions Ajax, but the youngster says he's committed to Sparta Rotterdam.
Being linked to Ajax is a massive turnaround for Okoye, who until 2019 was starring in the German third division for Fortuna Dusseldorf's reserve team.
But the 21-year-old's turning point arrived when he was invited to the Nigerian national team, making his debut against former world champion Brazil in November 2019.
The Super Eagles goalkeeper then sealed a move to Sparta Rotterdam last year. Okoye served as the second-choice goalie at the start of the season before he grabbed his opportunity and has become the club's number one for the most part.
The Super Eagles number one has made 20 Eredivisie appearances for Sparta, helping them stay comfortably away from relegation troubles.
Ajax are reportedly keeping tabs on Okoye after the German-born goalkeeper kept another clean sheet at the weekend in Sparta's 2-0 victory over RKC Waalwijk.
But Okoye insists a transfer to Ajax is not on the horizon, even though he is okay with being linked to the Dutch champions.
“I haven't heard anything yet; it's mainly a rumour now,” Okoye told ESPN as per FCUpdate.
“It is nice to read that Ajax is interested. That means that I am performing well at Sparta. My focus is now on Sparta. At the moment, nothing is playing yet. We will see what will happen.”
Okoye is currently the Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper and is expected to stay in goal when Nigeria take on the Benin Republic in an Afcon-qualifying match on March 27.
I thought it was said that Maduka’s next move is to Watford in the Premier League. I saw the pics he took confirming the impending move. How come this article did not address that issue? Has that “move” to Watford fallen through, or could it be put down to “rumours”?
ASIDE: I am elated to learn that Nigerian Coach Gernot Rohr has been relieved from his post albeit at the wrong time. Sports Minister Dare, is going to experience trying times on the job from January 2022, as a result of the untimely exit of Coach Rohr. He will be surprised to know that the whole country, including the President, place a very high premium on Nigeria’s football successes, and that the failures that could result from the Super Eagles’ near future campaigns as a result of Rohr’s untimely departure could turn the focus of Nigerians to his person. The issue then will not be if but when a new very good foreign coach was employed to succeed Rohr. The nation will not care where he’d managed to source the funds to hire the new coach. He should be smart and tactical because the fallout would affect his’ and Pinnick’s career adversely. Time is of the essence. Minister Dare is experienced and held in high esteem by Nigerians. I wish him the very best of luck…