Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has defended Maduka Okoye’s omission from Nigeria’s 28-man squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting that goalkeepers require a different level of management from outfield players.
Okoye was initially included in coach Eric Chelle’s 54-man provisional list and was expected to compete for the number one position amid concerns over Stanley Nwabali’s fitness ahead of the tournament.
However, the Udinese goalkeeper was missing from the final squad, sparking widespread debate and reports that he opted out after not receiving assurances of a starting role—a development that raised questions about his commitment to the national team.
Speaking on his Global Football Show, Oliseh dismissed the criticism, stressing that the goalkeeper position is unique and demands clear communication from coaches. “The goalkeeper, they are a different race. The goalkeeper is a totally different species,” he said. “The way you manage the goalkeeper is not the way they manage players. Goalkeepers must know in advance whether they will play or not.”
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder recalled Okoye’s last appearance for Nigeria, noting that the player was subjected to intense criticism across social media and television platforms. Oliseh described the backlash as so severe that it could have ended the goalkeeper’s career.
“If this boy were my son, I would tell him now, ‘Go and stop playing. Just go make your life again. Forget it,’” Oliseh said, highlighting the emotional toll such criticism can have on players.
Oliseh further argued that Okoye has worked hard to rebuild his career at Udinese and risked undoing that progress by leaving his club during the European season without guarantees of playing time at AFCON. He warned that attending the tournament and not playing could result in Okoye losing his place at the club level.
Addressing accusations of unpatriotism, the 1994 AFCON winner rejected the narrative, saying players should not be treated as expendable. “If truly he said, ‘I’m not coming,’ I can understand it,” Oliseh said. “People are not slaves or to be used,” he added, urging fans to show greater empathy toward players’ careers and personal well-being.
