Okonkwo excited for Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau clashes

Super Eagles goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has said he is excited about Nigeria’s opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, describing his first involvement in Nigeria’s competition camp as a dream come true.

“It’s a dream come true, and it being my first time in Nigeria, I’m happy to be here. I didn’t want to miss this for anything,” Okonkwo told NFF TV.

“I am excited for the first game against Madagascar and obviously against Guinea-Bissau. I know they’re tough games, and the manager has made that clear, but I am excited to see it.”

The 24-year-old is back in Éric Chelle’s squad after an impressive introduction to senior international football, and says his experience around the national team has been helped by the reception from his teammates.

On the goalkeeping battle with Stanley Nwabali

and Maduka Okoye for a starting role, Okonkwo said he was ready to learn from the pair rather than get caught up in the competition for the number one shirt. “The boys have been very welcoming. They’ve been in the Nigerian set-up much longer than me, and I look forward to learning from them.

“They’re fantastic goalkeepers I can learn from, and I’m just taking it day by day,” he said.

Okonkwo already boasts an impressive early international record.

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He made his Super Eagles debut in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Zimbabwe at the Unity Cup in May before keeping another clean sheet in the 3-0 final victory over Jamaica, meaning he goes into the Madagascar match with two clean sheets from his first two senior appearances.

His club form has also strengthened his case. Since joining Charlton Athletic on loan from Wrexham, Okonkwo has been playing regularly in the Championship and has recorded three clean sheets in his opening six league appearances by mid-September.

Competition for the goalkeeping jersey remains stiff, however. Nwabali is already in camp, while Okoye reported late after 23 other players featured in Nigeria’s opening training session, with the Udinese man’s absence drawing scrutiny on social media before he eventually joined his teammates.

For now, Okonkwo insists his focus is less on the individual battle for the gloves and more on Nigeria making a winning start to the qualifiers.

The Super Eagles host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 25 before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.