AFCON qualifiers: 'I made my choice' - Eric Chelle clears air on Maduka Okoye's snub

Super Eagles caput manager Eric Chelle has clarified the reasons down his determination to exclude Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye from Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Tanzania.

Okoye’s lack comes astatine a clip erstwhile the goalkeeper has faced expanding scrutiny implicit his caller performances for some nine and country. His signifier astatine Italian broadside Udinese has attracted criticism, portion questions person besides emerged astir his committedness to the nationalist team.

The erstwhile Watford shot-stopper besides came nether occurrence from Nigerian supporters aft reporting precocious to the Super Eagles campy during the September planetary break.

However, Chelle has insisted that Okoye has not been permanently ruled retired of the nationalist team, stressing that the goalkeeper remains eligible for aboriginal selection.

Speaking during a property conference, the Malian tactician explained that his squad decisions are influenced by players’ performances, their behaviour distant from the transportation and what they bring to the wide squad structure.

“Maduka Okoye is successful the nationalist team. I made the prime similar the different players; the nationalist squad is not closed to him oregon them. I made my choice,” Chelle said.

The Super Eagles brag further explained that his decision-making process progressive assessing the team’s atmosphere, idiosyncratic contributions and the tactical demands of the upcoming fixtures.

“When I made my choice, it was based connected what happened connected the transportation and astir it. We request to person a bully presumption successful the group. How bash we consciousness wrong that group?

“What happened connected the transportation and astir it informed my choice. I person a tactical approach, and I tried to marque the champion decision,” helium concluded.

Meanwhile, Okoye has endured a challenging commencement to the 2026/27 run with Udinese, managing conscionable 1 cleanable expanse portion conceding 25 goals successful 11 league appearances.

His caller struggles could marque it hard for him to regain his spot successful the Super Eagles squad, though Chelle’s comments suggest that the doorway remains unfastened for a instrumentality if his performances and wide contributions improve.

AFCON qualifiers: 'I made my choice' - Eric Chelle clears aerial connected Maduka Okoye's snub