Sparta Rotterdam of Holland goalkeeper, Emil Maduka Okoye is thinking of getting a long and huge career with Nigeria’s national team, with which he believes he can grow to become first choice in years to come, megasportsarena.com reports.
Speaking against his back-to-back full minutes of action in recent international friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia, the 21-year-old former Fortuna Dusseldorf of Germany shot-stopper said he is looking forward for more days ahead with the Super Eagles.
However, while admitting he felt deflated for allowing in a goal each against both North African teams, as the Eagles lost 1-0 to Algeria last week Friday in Austria and were forced to a 1-1 draw by the Tunisians four days later in the same country, Okoye admitted he will have to work harder in order to see his dreams come true in green-and-white.
He went on to issue a bold promise that he will keep doing his best with his club and anytime he is invited to the national team, as the former Dusseldorf fourth-string keeper hopes to become Nigeria’s next top-rated shot-stopper
Having got the nod to start both games in the absence of Daniel Akpeyi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Francis Odinaka Uzoho, Okoye got his second and third caps with the Eagles, following his debut in a 1-1 draw with Brazil last October in Singapore, and the Rotterdam summer signing showed glimpses of what he is capable of by pulling off some crucial saves in the encounters.
The tall, fair-skinned netminder, who was born in Germany but opted to switch international allegiance last year, concluded by admitting he felt on top of the world with his opportunities against Algeria and Tunisia, but posited that he has to be on his toes moving forward, as a long rough road still lies ahead of him.
Okoye told Nigerian newspaper, The Punch: “Of course, it’s great and it’s cool playing 90 minutes in the two friendlies. It was not easy games but I am happy with my performance.
“In the Algerian game, we conceded in the fifth minute and it was not good. There was too much on our minds. A goal that early was bad but we had to keep on going. We kept on going for over 85 minutes. As I said, it’s not nice to concede goals but that’s football.
“I’m happy to be in the team. It’s always better to have a clean sheet but I’m looking forward to more games with the team. I will keep doing my thing and do my best and give my coach the reason to make me the Eagles first-choice goalkeeper.”
