Okoye faces backlash over habitual Eagles late arrival

Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has faced criticism for frequently arriving late to camp ahead of Nigeria's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The camp opened on Sunday, with all 23 players arriving on Monday and participating in the first training session. However, footage emerged on social media showing Okoye discussing with American rapper Cardi B at Milan Fashion Week in June, where he also modelled Udinese's third kit.

This led to backlash from Nigerian fans and journalists on social media, questioning his habitual lateness to camp. Okoye is not new to this behavior; he was also spotted with Cardi B at Paris Fashion Week during the summer. The delay in his arrival coincided with his teammates being prepared for Friday's match against Madagascar.

Despite the lack of official communication from the Super Eagles regarding his expected arrival time until he arrived, journalists and fans have expressed concerns over the communication gap and Okoye's repeated lateness. Some have even urged the Nigeria Football Federation to take action, citing that players should not be seen in public places less than 42 hours before important qualifying matches.

Despite his past incidents, Okoye has recently been considered for the starting position, with coach Eric Chelle eyeing him after Stanley Nwabali's absence. However, Nwabali's return and the addition of Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo to the squad have left the goalkeeping situation uncertain.