INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES: Rotterdam confirm Nigeria call-up for Okoye

By Akeem Lawal 

DUTCH club Sparta Rotterdam has confirmed that Nigeria international, Maduka Okoye has been invited for his country’s two high profile friendly games with Cote d’Ivoire and Tunisia in October, Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports.

Gernot Rohr’s team will take on the Elephants on October 9 in Austria and will then face the Carthage Eagles at the same venue four days later.

Even though Nigeria is yet to release the official list of players for the encounters, Rotterdam confirmed that their goalkeeper, who recently joined from German side Fortuna Düsseldorf, will be part of the games.

Okoye, who made his Eagles debut in last year’s high-profile friendly against Brazil, will be fighting for the Eagles No 1 shirt alongside the likes of overseas-based rivals Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi.

“Maduka Okoye has been included in Nigeria's final squad. The Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper is simply international of the Supereagles. With Nigeria, he will face Ivory Coast (October 9) and Tunisia (October 13). The matches are played in Austria,” Rotterdam tweeted.

Since defeating Lesotho 4-2 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Maseru's Setsoto Stadium on November 17, 2019, the Super Eagles are yet to play a match in 2020 owing to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nigeria beat the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia to win the bronze medal at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

A solitary goal from Odion Ighalo ensured the Eagles did not leave the AFCON 2019 empty-handed.