Maduka Okoye’s Serie A Form Threatens Stanley Nwabali’s Super Eagles Starting Spot, Says Ex-Nigeria Star Friday Ekpo

Stanley Nwabali’s path back into the Super Eagles starting lineup has grown considerably more complicated, according to former Nigerian international Friday Ekpo, who cited both the goalkeeper’s prolonged club inactivity and the outstanding form of Udinese‘s Maduka Okoye as key factors working against him.

Nwabali has been without a club since departing South African side Chippa United in February 2026. Despite attracting reported transfer interest following an impressive 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, the 29-year-old remains unattached, raising questions about his match sharpness ahead of future international fixtures.

“There is no doubt that Nwabali is a talented goalkeeper, but his absence from the Super Eagles as a result of his inactivity with club football really makes me feel worried,” Ekpo told Completesports.com in an interview. Ekpo, a former Nigerian midfielder, stressed that performing consistently at the highest international level demands regular competitive action at club level — something Nwabali is currently unable to provide.

Nwabali rose to national prominence during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where his penalty-saving performances were instrumental in helping Nigeria reach the final. That tournament elevated him to the status of first-choice goalkeeper under former head coach José Peseiro, a position he retained under current Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle.

However, Ekpo believes the landscape has shifted considerably in Nwabali’s absence, with Okoye — formerly of Watford — establishing himself as a consistent and reliable figure between the posts for Udinese in Serie A. Okoye made history this season by becoming the first Nigerian goalkeeper in 11 years to record more than 10 clean sheets in a single campaign across one of Europe’s top five leagues.

“To be fair, it will be difficult for him to walk back into the team and regain the number one spot, going by the performance of Maduka Okoye at Udinese,” Ekpo said. He further credited Okoye’s development and composure as attributes that now put him ahead in the competition for Nigeria’s goalkeeping berth.

“Okoye has gradually taken his game to another height, and his confidence in front of goal makes me feel Nwabali has a lot to do to take his place back,” Ekpo added.

Okoye’s milestone clean sheet tally this season also helped secure Udinese’s Serie A status, underlining the significance of his contributions at club level. His consistency stands in stark contrast to Nwabali’s current situation, with the latter yet to confirm his next club destination.

For Nigeria, the goalkeeping debate arrives at a critical juncture as the Super Eagles navigate their preparations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With coach Eric Chelle building a squad around form and fitness, Nwabali’s prolonged absence from competitive football could prove costly if a club move does not materialise in the near term. Ekpo’s comments reflect a broader conversation within Nigerian football circles about whether a goalkeeper without regular club minutes can justifiably hold down a starting position at international level.