No respite for Okoye as his poor form continues in Sparta’s embarrassing loss to Feyenoord

The Nigerian goalkeeper returned to action in the Dutch top-flight after the disappointment of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, but there was no relief for him as he failed to keep another clean sheet

Maduka Okoye’s poor run of form continued on Sunday after he conceded four goals in Sparta Rotterdam’s 4-0 loss to Feyenoord in the Eredivisie clash between the two sides at De Kuip.

Okoye was looking to bounce back after a frustrating AFCON campaign, which saw him take the blame for Nigeria’s exit in the round of 16.

Sparta coach Henk Fraser restored the Nigerian straight into the lineup for the clash against Feyenoord, but it was a baptism of fire for him as he picked out the ball from his net two times inside 15 minutes.

Feyenoord took the lead within four minutes, courtesy of a strike from Orkun Kökçü. Okoye then picked the ball out of his net seven minutes later as Alireza Jahanbakhsh doubled the home side’s lead.

Guus Til extended Feyenoord’s advantage five minutes after the break, firing a left-footed finish past Okoye, who was beaten far too easily.

The afternoon got worse for the Nigerian shot-stopper as Til got his second of the game in the 70th minute to complete an emphatic win for Feyenoord.

It was indeed a nightmare return for Okoye, who made just two saves in the entire match. The Nigerian international has now conceded 27 goals in 17 league games this season, with just two clean sheets to his name.

Meanwhile, his international compatriot, Cyriel Dessers, was a 66th-minute substitute for Feyenoord, but he could not add to his eight goals.