The first choice goalkepper of the senior national team of Nigeria Maduka Okoye has played down suggestions that he has taken a break from the senior national team of Nigeria.
Okoye pulled out of the World Cup qualifiers playoff against Ghana and also the upcoming friendly games against Mexico and Ecuador respectively in the United States of America. Fueling talks that he is taking a break from international football.
Speaking to Suleiman Folarin, the Watford bound goalkepper said he decided to pull out of the game due to a shoulder injury picked up during a league game against Ajax on the 8th of April.
He picked up the injury in the game against Ajax and he is expected to undergo rehabilitation ahead of the start of the new season as agreed by the doctors of Sparta Rotterdam and that of Watford.
BREAKING: Maduka Okoye pulled out of the @NGSuperEagles friendlies & #AFCON Qualifiers due to shoulder injury. He has been playing injured since April 8th against @AFCAjax. @SpartaRotterdam & @WatfordFC Doctor’s agreed that he must get rehab before next season. #Nigeria #Mexico pic.twitter.com/F1pUSKdtZ4
— Sulaiman Folarin (@sulaiman4real) May 23, 2022
The statement made by Folarin isn’t in tandem with what a source told this portal as it was claimed that he isn’t mentally ready to play for Nigeria now after the insults he suffered for his howler in the 0-1 defeat to Tunisia that led to the Super Eagles elimination from the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.