Maduka Okoye’s long-awaited return to the Super Eagles has stirred mixed-to-negative emotions among Nigeria fans, particularly after a disappointing end to AFCON qualifying.
His return to the national team saw him start for the first time in two years.
Despite the emotional significance of the encounter, his moment came as the threee-time African champions stumbled to a 2-1 home defeat against Rwanda.
Maduka Okoye happy to return to Super Eagles starting lineup
Stepping in for the absent Stanley Nwabali, who was mourning the loss of his father, Okoye's return was bittersweet.
The match against Rwanda marked his first appearance since the 2021 AFCON, where his last game for Nigeria also ended in disappointment against Tunisia.
The defeat on Monday reignited the old debate about Okoye’s consistency and performance at international level.
Even with the negative result, Okoye took to social media to reflect on the personal significance of his return.
“Despite the result, I’m more than happy and grateful to have played in this jersey again. It has always been, it is, and it will forever be an honour to represent Nigeria,” he wrote on his Instagram.
While the loss to Rwanda was tough to swallow, it did not affect Nigeria’s spot for the upcoming AFCON tournament. Having already secured their place as group leaders, the Super Eagles advanced to the next phase with 11 points from six matches.
Looking forward, Okoye's focus now shifts to his club commitments with Udinese. The goalkeeper will be part of the squad as they prepare for an upcoming Serie A match against Empoli.
