Revealed: Why Francis Uzoho Was Picked for 2025 AFCON Ahead of Maduka Okoye
Many Nigerians have expressed anger and confusion over the absence of Maduka Okoye from the Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins this month in Morocco. Instead, head coach Eric Chelle chose to recall former first-choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.
However, new information has now revealed the real reason behind this decision.
An insider in the Super Eagles camp told Nsikakabasi Akpan that Udinese, Okoye’s club in Italy, made a special request. They said that if Okoye was only going to the AFCON as a backup to first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, then he should be allowed to remain with the club. Okoye would have missed up to seven league matches if he travelled to Morocco.
Because of this, the Super Eagles coaching staff waited to see whether Nwabali would recover in time for the tournament. When medical reports confirmed that Nwabali was progressing well and would be fit, the technical crew decided to drop Okoye and recall Francis Uzoho instead.
This is not the first time a situation like this has happened with Okoye. In the past, he has also asked to be left out of the squad when he felt he would not be the first choice.
Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has therefore become one of the most surprising omissions from the final 2025 AFCON squad. It is also understood that Okoye was willing to stay back and focus on his club career, especially after recently completing a two-month ban for a betting-related offence.
Nigerians will also remember the difficult period Okoye faced after the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon, where he received death threats following a mistake that led to Nigeria’s exit in the Round of 16.
With Okoye unavailable, Eric Chelle has now placed his trust in Francis Uzoho, who has not played for the Super Eagles since the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. The third goalkeeper named in the squad is Tanzania-based Amas Obasogie.
As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on the goalkeeping department to see how the team performs in Morocco.
