Mission accomplished: Super Eagles goalkeeper stars as Rotterdam’s Gladiators escape relegation

The Rotterdammers flirted with relegation for most of the campaign, but they sealed their top-flight status with an emphatic away victory on Sunday

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye produced another fine display to help Sparta Rotterdam claim an excellent 3-1 win at Heracles on the final day of the 2021-22 Eredivisie season.

Okoye could not add to the six clean sheets he has amassed this season, but he was still an influential presence between the posts as Sparta secured the win that guarantees them another year in the top flight.

After managing just two victories between August and February, the Red-White Gladiators were seemingly heading to the lower division.

But the return of Okoye from the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations coincided with Sparta’s change of fortunes as the Rotterdammers have been on the upward trajectory since.

Five of Okoye’s clean sheets have come during this period, with Sparta winning six of their 13 games and losing just four.

Three consecutive wins in recent weeks have helped matter greatly as the Castle Lords finish a respectable 14th after a truly turbulent campaign.

Okoye will, however, be heading to relegated Watford and will likely be playing in the Championship next season, having signed a long-term deal with the Hornets in January.