Super Eagles: Should Maduka Okoye return worry erratic Stanley Nwabali ahead of WCQ playoffs?

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, is poised to make his long-awaited return to the Udinese squad after serving a two-month suspension for betting-related offences. The Düsseldorf-born goalkeeper, who had established himself as a reliable figure in Friuli before his ban, is now being backed to bounce back stronger as the Serie A side resumes domestic duties.

Luigi Turci, a former Udinese and Cremonese goalkeeper who later worked as AC Milan’s goalkeeping coach, believes the 26-year-old will come back with renewed focus and determination. Speaking to Messaggero Veneto (via Tuttomercatoweb), Turci said he expects to see “a new man” in Okoye, one intent on regaining credibility after his enforced absence.

“I believe we will see a new man. He will want to regain credibility with everyone around him,” Turci noted, adding that while the former Sparta Rotterdam star may initially lack sharpness due to his time away from competitive action, “he will compensate with enthusiasm and attention.”

Turci also stressed that Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic retains faith in the Nigerian, insisting the club’s first-choice gloves remain in safe hands. “I think Runjaic will continue to rely on him. He has always been the starter, and Sava has not shone in his absence,” Turci said.

Should Okoye displace Nwabali as Super Eagles no.1 in November?

While Okoye’s return to club action will be welcomed in Udine, it inevitably raises questions back home. Stanley Nwabali’s form in recent months has been erratic, flashes of his AFCON-era composure replaced by inconsistency and avoidable confrontations.

His judgement in high-pressure moments has often been suspect, and several on-field outbursts have only added to concerns about his temperament. Referees’ leniency has spared him disciplinary action, but it’s clear something is off.

Having tragically lost both parents within a two-month span, he may still be dealing with the emotional toll of those losses. Okoye, by contrast, could offer a calming presence that the Super Eagles have lacked in recent outings. His display against Russia in June in what was a very intimidating atmosphere inside the Luzhniki Stadium was testament to his ability under pressure.

Even so, Nigeria can ill afford disruption ahead of November’s World Cup playoff semi-final against Gabon. Any shift in the goalkeeping hierarchy would risk unsettling a squad already chasing stability. The more logical window for such a reassessment would be December’s pre-AFCON camp, when Eric Chelle and his staff will have ample time to evaluate both men closely before making a definitive call.