Nigeria goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has withdrawn from the squad for the two international friendlies over the next week because of shoulder injury, according to reports.
The withdrawal has plugged the team into goalkeeping crisis ahead of its friendly against the Mexico and Ecuador in USA and the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Okoye was not scheduled to be involved against the Mexico but was expected to play against Ecuador at Red Bull Arena.
The two Nigeria back-up goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka and Ojo Olorunleke are inexperienced as this will be their first outing with the senior national team.
Okoye was set to make a return to the Super Eagles squad after missing two-legged World Cup qualifier against Ghana in March, following reports that he had contracted COVID-19 at the time.
The 6ft 6in shot-stopper started his football career at Bayer Leverkusen academy between 2012 and 2017, he proceeded to Fortuna Dusseldorf to become a professional.
He received his first invitation to Nigeria U-23 team in 2019 for an Olympics qualifier but club commitments held him back.
Okoye finally yielded Nigeria’s call in August 2019 when he was invited for an international friendly match against Ukraine.
Nigeria will be using the two upcoming friendlies in USA as part of preparations for the next month’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Sierra Leone in Abuja (9th June) and São Tomé & Príncipe in Marrakech, Morocco (13th June).
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands); Adewale Adeyinka (Akwa United); Ojo Olorunleke (Enyimba FC)
Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (AC Omonia, Cyprus); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Leon Balogun (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Isa Ali (Remo Stars); Chidozie Awaziem (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ibrahim Buhari (Plateau United)
Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Watford FC, England); Chiamaka Madu (Rivers United); Babatunde Afeez Nosiru (Kwara United); Azubuike Okechukwu (Yeni Malatyaspor, Turkey); Samson Tijani (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria); Alhassan Yusuf (Royal Antwerp FC, Belgium)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Fatih Karagumruk, Turkey); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Leicester City, England); Sadiq Umar (UD Almeria, Spain); Emmanuel Dennis (Watford FC, England); Cyriel Dessers (Feyenoord FC, The Netherlands); Victor Mbaoma (Enyimba FC); Ishaq Rafiu (Rivers United)
