Super Eagles: Why Eric Chelle dropped Maduka Okoye for Francis Uzoho

Francis Uzoho has earned a Super Eagles recall after head coach Éric Chelle dropped Maduka Okoye from Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Tanzania.

The Omonia 29 Maiou goalkeeper returns to the national team after missing the September international window. His last appearance for Nigeria came in March, when he replaced Okoye in the second half of the 2-2 friendly draw against Jordan.

He was also an unused substitute in both of Nigeria’s matches at the Unity Cup in May and the friendlies against Poland and Portugal in June.

However, Chelle left him out of the squad for the September qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. He has now been recalled, taking Okoye’s place alongside Stanley Nwabali and Arthur Okonkwo.

Okoye’s absence follows the controversy surrounding his late arrival at Nigeria’s training camp in September, which reportedly angered the coaching staff.

The Udinese goalkeeper had been expected to challenge for the number-one position ahead of the matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau. Especially with Nwabali having only emerged from an extended period when he was without a club.

However, Okoye stayed in Italy for Udinese’s 130th-anniversary third-kit presentation during Milan Fashion Week, delaying his arrival in camp.

How Okoye lost his Super Eagles place

Chelle initially granted Okoye an extra day to report to camp, but the goalkeeper reportedly took another two days before joining his teammates. He missed several training sessions before eventually arriving in Uyo on the morning of the Madagascar match.

As a result, he was left out of the matchday squad, with Nwabali returning to the starting lineup for Nigeria’s 2-1 comeback victory.

Okoye trained ahead of the Guinea-Bissau game, but his late arrival had already put his place in the team under threat.

His recent form at Udinese has also been mixed. The 27-year-old conceded 14 goals in six appearances between October and November, keeping just one clean sheet.

His best outing came against Parma, where he saved a penalty and earned an 8.3 rating from FotMob. However, Udinese lost five of those six matches.

Why Chelle recalled Uzoho

While Okoye struggled at club and international level, Uzoho continued to get regular playing time in Cyprus.

The 28-year-old joined Omonia 29 Maiou from Omonia Nicosia in August 2026 and has since established himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.

He has started all eight of his league appearances this season, keeping two clean sheets in 720 minutes of action.

Uzoho also has considerable experience with the Super Eagles. The former Deportivo La Coruña goalkeeper has made 32 appearances for Nigeria since his debut in 2017.

He featured at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and three Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, winning bronze in 2019 and silver in 2023.

His regular football in Cyprus and experience with the national team have made him a ready-made choice for Chelle, as Okoye loses his place in the squad.

However, Uzoho will still have to compete with Nwabali and Okonkwo for the starting position. Still, his recall gives him another chance to convince Chelle that he deserves a regular place in the Super Eagles squad.