Super Eagles shot-stopper Maduka Okoye opens up on his feelings following his performance at the 2022 Africa Cup Of Nations AFCON, tournament in Cameroon; npflupdates.com reports..
Okoye was Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper at the 2022 AFCON under the tutelage of Austin Egueavoen.
It was beautiful tournament for the three-time African champions who finished the group stages as the best team.
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Sadly, in a knockout game against a depleted Tunisia team, Okoye made a mistake which led to the decisive goal of the fixture. Following Super Eagles elimination, Super Eagles supporters using various approaches called for the expulsion of the Germany-born from the national team.
It’s been years after that ugly incident, and Okoye who made a return to the Super Eagles after the 2023 AFCON has decided to talk about the incident; and his mindset.
Okoye speaks about his 2022 AFCON performance
“When I looked back at that moment, I knew I had to do better. It pains me till today. This is the first time that I really talk about it,” Maduka Okoye told Omasport TV and was quoted by Allnigeria.
“You can see it 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 one week where you see Manuel Neuer, one of the best is making mistakes. You know it is part of the game.
“It is hard for me as a young boy to go through what happened, and I am not talking about what I heard and read on social media.”
Speaking further he said; “It is more about letting your teammates, family and country down. I am not reading what people write on social media.
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“People still say bad things about Cristiano Ronaldo. People will always say a bad thing about you. I know myself that I didn’t do well in that situation, and I know I let my country and teammates down and I am still sad to this day and I wish it had been different.”
“But it happened and I learned from my mistakes. The most important thing was that I could go on and I think that I am in a better position now than back then,” he added.
