Okoye vs Nwabali & Uzoho: Stats reveal Udinese goalkeeper has better clean sheets record ahead of Rwanda clash

Maduka Okoye is set to feature for the Super Eagles of Nigeria since his last appearance against Tunisia at the 2021 AFCON tournament

Super Eagles of Nigeria are slated to be without Stanley Nwabali in the squad for the first time since his heroic display at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, Soccernet.ng reports.

Following this, Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, is set to return to action for the Nigerian national team, with Nwabali being excused from camp following his father’s death.

This marks his first appearance since his appearances for the Nigerian Eagles at the 2021 AFCON tournament, where they lost 1-nil to Tunisia in the round of 16.

This followed a lot of criticism from the fans who blamed his mistakes for Nigeria’s exit and the former Watford goalkeeper giving himself a self-imposed exile from the squad.

As the Nigerian national team prepares for upcoming fixtures, recent stats have shown Okoye’s strong record compared to his counterparts, Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali.

Okoye, currently playing for Udinese, boasts a remarkable record for Nigeria with 16 appearances, having conceded just 11 goals while keeping 8 clean sheets. This impressive record places him in a strong position ahead of his return to the national team.

In comparison, Francis Uzoho, who has been the go-to goalkeeper for Nigeria in recent years, has made 35 appearances. However, Uzoho has conceded 35 goals and managed only 13 clean sheets in that period, recalling a higher goals-to-games ratio than Okoye.

Stanley Nwabali, who has also had a solid run with the Super Eagles, has made 17 appearances, conceding 17 goals and keeping 7 clean sheets. While Nwabali’s numbers are commendable, Okoye’s record of conceding fewer goals in more games makes him an appealing option for Nigeria’s number-one goalkeeper spot.

While the Super Eagles aim for success in their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Okoye’s return could provide a much-needed boost to the team’s defensive setup.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

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