Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba has spoken out in defence of Maduka Okoye following criticism over his performance in Nigeria’s 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
The match marked Okoye’s first appearance for the national team since 2021.
Aiyenugba downplayed the perceived error, emphasizing that such situations are normal in football and should not be seen as a major blunder.
– Advertisement –
Speaking to Brila.net, he encouraged Okoye to build mental toughness and resilience, noting that goalkeepers often face intense scrutiny.
– Advertisement –
“Okoye needs to work on his courage because that is the life of a goalkeeper. Sometimes you will let your team down, but the goals concerned were normal and could happen to anyone,” Aiyenugba explained.
Dele urged Okoye to stay focused and not be discouraged by criticism.
“He just needs to keep working and enjoying the game. He shouldn’t decide to stop playing for Nigeria because of the criticisms,” Aiyenugba advised.
The former Super Eagles shot-stopper also pointed out that some players struggle to replicate their club form when playing for the national team. Despite this, he assured Okoye that persistence and effort would lead to improvement and greater confidence over time.
