Sparta Rotterdam of Netherlands goalkeeper, Emil Maduka Okoye has received verbal support from a former Super Eagles’ invitee that features in the same Dutch Eredivisie League, as Feryenoord’s Cyriel Dessers says his compatriot is a good shot-stopper.
Megasportsarena.com reports that the verdict from Dessers comes at a point Okoye is under fire for turning up late in the Nigerian national team’s camp and now looks set to lose his starting line-up for Thursday’s match against Central African Republic (CAR).
Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr stated categorically that Okoye will not being in his first 11 for the game at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, but Dessers insists that does not take anything away from the quality possessed by the former Fortuna Dusseldorf of Germany netminder.
Rather than floor Okoye, whose late arrival Rohr described as unprofessional, Dessers, who could not make the best of the single Nigerian team invitation he got late last year, insists what he has seen of his colleague in the Dutch League proves that the keeper is good.
That is against the backdrop of stats showing how Okoye has kept five clean sheets in ten appearances for the Eagles, while conceding eight goals, including four in one game against Sierra Leone.
Incidentally, Dessers lost his opportunity form another chance with the Eagles due to his lack of playing opportunities at Racing Genk of Belgium, but the Leuven-born striker is not thinking about himself for now.
Instead of personal thoughts, Dessers, who got his debut off the bench during an international friendly 1-1 draw with Tunisia in October 2020, heaped plaudits on Okoye and disclosed that he looks forward to facing him in a derby on October 31.
Dessers told Dutch public broadcaster Rijnmond: “I’ve talked about the Eredivisie with Maduka in the past.
“He’s a really good goalkeeper and plays a lot. I’m looking forward to playing against him in the league anyway.”
