Maduka Okoye, Super Eagles’ first-choice keeper, suffered an injury during Ajax 1-0 loss, he was replaced by Benjamin van Leer
By Kehinde Okeowo
Nigeria suffered another injury blow, as Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, was taken off during the encounter between The Castle Lords and league leaders Ajax on Sunday.
This is coming just a week after Victor Osimhen had surgery for the injury he sustained on his face, which could keep him out of the upcoming AFCON in Cameroon.
Sparta Rotterdam confirmed Maduka Okoye’s injury in a short statement on their Twitter handle.
The club wrote: ”Sparta are forced to make the first change due to injury to Okoye.”
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The Nigerian goalkeeper was replaced in the 24th minute by Benjamin van Leer, who conceded a goal to Dusan Tadic 10 minutes later.
Sparta did not indicate the extent of the injury sustained by the 22-year-old or how long he would be sidelined.
The match eventually ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Sparta Rotterdam and left them 2 points adrift of safety, while Ajax opened a 2 points gap over second-placed PSV Eindhoven.
This news of Okoye’s injury will be a worrying one for Gernot Rohr and his technical crew, given the loss of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen.
They will be monitoring the Eagle’s keeper, closely and hoping it’s not a serious injury that could prevent him from participating in the AFCON or World Cup playoff.
Maduka Okoye recently signed a contract with Premier League Club Watford, but he was loaned back to Sparta Rotterdam for the rest of the season.
