‘New Okocha’ scores in ‘difficult’ game for Super Eagles goalkeeper

Watford fell to their second friendly loss on Tuesday as their Nigerian international shot-stopper continued his integration with the Golden Boys

Nigerian forward Dapo Afolayan was on the scoresheet as Bolton Wanderers secured a 2-0 win over Maduka Okoye’s Watford at the London Colney on Tuesday.

Okoye was involved as Watford stumbled to a 3-1 defeat to Cambridge United and a 0-0 draw to Panathinaikos over the past couple of weeks.

The former Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper still lined up between the sticks for the Hornets against Wanderers in their third tune-up match of the preseason.

Super Eagles vice-captain William Troost-Ekong and Nigerian youngster Tom Dele-Bashiru were also in the starting lineup for Watford.

But it was Super Eagles hopeful Dapo Afolayan who stole the show with his Bolton Wanderers teammates.

The versatile attacking midfielder, tagged the ‘new Okocha’, doubled Bolton’s lead before the break with an assured finish after Kieran Lee had slotted home the opener minutes earlier.

Watford grew into the encounter and had several chances to get on the scoresheet, but Bolton held on for a morale-boosting victory.

Okoye admits the Hornets struggled in the opening phase of the match but was pleased with his side’s response after the break.

“I think it was quite difficult in the beginning which is understandable because this is new for us,” Okoye told Watford’s official website. “We’ll find our way; you can see in the second half we were way better and we’ve shown progress.”

Watford’s next friendly game is against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday at the Watford Training Ground in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Okoye will aim to continue integrating with the Hornets’ squad ahead of the 2022-23 Championship season.

The Golden Boys – just relegated from the Premier League – begin their league campaign with a fixture at home to Sheffield United on August 1st.