**Nigeria's Super Eagles Struggle to Find Answers After Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup Setbacks** Maduka Okoye, the 24-year-old Udinese Calcio goalkeeper, has spoken out about the recent struggles of the Nigeria national football team. The Super Eagles have faced a difficult period on the international stage, including a disappointing campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria reached the semi-finals at the Africa Cup of Nations, but were eventually knocked out on penalties by hosts Morocco. Okoye, who was not part of the squad, said watching from home was not easy. "I was watching from home as a supporter, like all the other 200–300 million Nigerians," he told *SportyTV*. "We deserved to win the Cup, but next year is already the next opportunity for us, and we will do everything to bring it home again." The Africa Cup of Nations disappointment was followed by an even bigger setback when Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Okoye admitted that the team is still trying to understand why results have not matched their quality. "National team football is a different kind of football, and the answer might be in the World Cup," he said. "I don’t really know, because we have the quality, we have great players, top-level players, top characters in the team. Hopefully, we get it done next time." Despite the setbacks, Okoye remains hopeful that the team can recover and achieve success in future competitions. He has now been recalled to the Super Eagles squad for upcoming friendly matches against Iran and Jordan, signalling a new phase for the team as they begin to rebuild. Okoye was born in Germany to a Nigerian father, and explained why he chose to represent Nigeria at international level despite having the option to play for Germany. "I grew up in Germany, but my father was very, very present in my life, especially in my young and early ages," he said. "So, I keep a lot of Nigerian inside of me, and I’m very proud of it." With 18 caps to his name, Okoye remains part of Nigeria’s goalkeeping setup as the Super Eagles look to move past recent disappointments. Okoye's commitment to playing for Nigeria is clear, and he is now focused on helping the team move forward. "I always knew I wanted to play for Nigeria, and back then I didn’t have another option," he said. "Of course, I went to youth German selections, but when the time came for Nigeria, I knew this was a dream, and I made it come true, by God’s grace."