Arthur Okonkwo Thrilled for Nigeria's AFCON Qualifiers

Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo expressed his excitement for Nigeria’s opening matches in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, describing his first involvement in the national team as a dream come true. Okonkwo, 24, is back in the squad under coach Éric Chelle after a strong start to his international career, having kept clean sheets in his first two appearances.

He made his Super Eagles debut in a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe in May and followed that with a clean sheet in a 3-0 victory over Jamaica. Currently on loan at Charlton Athletic from Wrexham, Okonkwo has recorded three clean sheets in six Championship appearances.

He acknowledged the competitive environment for the starting goalkeeper position, sharing that he is eager to learn from teammates Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye. The Super Eagles will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 25 before facing Guinea-Bissau four days later.