Soccer
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal warms up. [Photo credit/ Imago]
Super Eagles and Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has opened up about his conversation with Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka in the aftermath of the 2026 UEFA Champions League final, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Premier League champions suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, who claimed a second consecutive Champions League title in the final held at the Puskás Arena in Budapest on May 30.
Arsenal were playing in their first final in 20 years and only their second in the club’s history, but they could not make it count as they missed out on Europe’s elite club competition once again, extending their long wait for the title.
Despite taking an early lead through Kai Havertz, they struggled to create more chances and were put under pressure by PSG. The French champions eventually equalized in the second half through Ousmane Dembélé, who converted a spot-kick after a foul by Cristhian Mosquera on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. With the score tied at 1-1 after extra time, the match went to penalties.
Eberechi Eze and Nuno Mendes both missed for their respective sides, before Gabriel Magalhães missed the final and decisive kick that ended Arsenal’s hopes and handed PSG their second successive Champions League title.
Soccer Super Eagles star on Saka’s feelings after UCL final
Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo graduated from Arsenal’s Hale End academy alongside Bukayo Saka. However, he had no clear pathway to the first team and eventually left in search of regular playing time to join Wrexham.
Speaking in an interview with Ratings, the two-cap Super Eagles goalkeeper revealed that he still maintains a close relationship with Saka and shared details of their conversation following Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat.
“I think the one in the squad that I still talk to the most is Bukayo”, Okonkwo said, via r.org.
“You know, he was a bit sad, but they had such an unbelievable season. They took PSG all the way, and they’re really proud of themselves, as they should be. The club has done so well, and that’s the conversation I had with him. He’s still positive, and I think they’ll go again next season.”
While Saka chose to represent England despite being eligible for Nigeria, Okonkwo has gone the other way. The Wrexham goalkeeper made his Super Eagles debut in a 2-0 win over Zimbabwe at the 2026 Unity Cup in May and kept clean sheets in both matches as Nigeria lifted the trophy, marking an impressive start to his international career.
However, his future at the English club remains uncertain ahead of the transfer window, with his current contract due to expire at the end of next season.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Chief Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.
Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin
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