Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifying match between Central African Republic and Nigeria held at the Omnisports Stadium in Ngaoundere, Cameroon on October 10, 2021 © Alain Guy Suffo/BackpagePix
Friday, June 28, 2024. 15:44
Nigerian star Maduka Okoye has spoken about the mistake he made during a match against Tunisia in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The tall goalkeeper failed to stop Youssef Msakni’s long-range shot that went over his head and the Super Eagles were eliminated from the tournament after losing 1-0 to the Carthage Eagles in the round of 16.
Okoye was heavily criticised by fans and the media after the match and the Udinese Calcio player has since lost his place as Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper.
“When I look back, I knew I had to do better. It hurts me to this day. This is the first time I really talked about it,” Okoye said on OmaSports TV.
“It can be seen as a mistake because I had to keep the ball out of the goal. I don’t want things like this to happen because mistakes happen.
“We look back on a week where we see Manuel Neuer, one of the best, making mistakes. You know it’s part of the game. It’s tough for me, as a kid, to go through what he went through,” he continued.
“And I’m not talking about what I heard and read on social media. It’s more about letting down your teammates, your family and your country. I don’t read what people write on social media.”
“People still talk bad about Cristiano Ronaldo. People will always say bad things about you. I know I didn’t do well in that situation, I know I let my country and my teammates down and I’m still sad to this day and I wish it had been different,” he added.
“But it happened and I learned from my mistakes. The most important thing was that I was able to move on and I think I am in a better position now than I was then.”
Okoye, 24, has made 24 appearances for Nigeria and was included in the Super Eagles squad that faced South Africa and Benin earlier this month.
