Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peterside Idah has urged newly cleared shot-stopper Arthur Okonkwo to prove himself at the international level, Soccernet.ng exclusively reports.
The former Lobi Stars goalie insists club form alone will not guarantee success for the Wrexham A.F.C goalkeeper with the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Okonkwo recently received the green light from FIFA to represent the 2013 AFCON Champions after completing his nationality switch from England, ending months of uncertainty over his international future.
Arthur Okonkwo plays during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Wrexham. Copyright: xMIxNewsx
The 22-year-old, who developed at Arsenal and currently competes in the EFL Championship, is expected to receive his maiden call-up ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming international fixtures.
However, Idah believes the goalkeeper must first adapt to the unique demands of African football before staking a claim for a starting role.
“Well, he still has to prove himself. Being good for your club is quite different from playing for Nigeria,” Idah told Soccernet.ng.
“I’ve seen a lot of players perform very well at club level but struggle with the national team. It’s a different ball game entirely.”
The former international further highlighted the contrast between European and African football environments, noting that external conditions often play a significant role.
“When you’re in England, the weather is good, the clubs are well organised. But when you come to Africa, the situation is always different.”
Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo. Photo by IMAGO
Soccer No crisis in Super Eagles goalkeeping department
Despite Okonkwo’s arrival, Idah maintains that the Super Eagles are not short of quality options between the sticks.
Nigeria currently boasts a competitive goalkeeping pool, including Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, and first-choice Stanley Nwabali.
“That said, we already have two or three very good goalkeepers. In the last few years, I’m not sure we’ve really had problems in that department because [Stanley] Nwabali has done well, and Maduka [Okoye] has also come back,” he added.
Stanley Nwabali, for Nigeria during AFCON. Copyright: Imago/shengolpixsx
Idah concluded by encouraging Okonkwo to remain focused as he bids to break into the team.
“So he still needs to prove himself. But kudos to him—he just has to keep working hard to earn his place.”
Soccer Battle lines drawn for Okonkwo ahead of June fixtures
With Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle set to assemble his squad for friendlies against Portugal and Poland in June, competition for the number one shirt is expected to intensify.
Okonkwo’s inclusion could spark a fierce battle in goal — but as Idah insists, the former England youth international must first show he can handle the pressure of wearing the green and white.
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
According to a study commissioned by Australia’s Alliance for Gambling Reform and conducted by SustainoMetric, the country’s 20 biggest super funds collectively hold at least AUD 14.8 billion (about $10.3 billion) in listed gambling-related investments. Here’s What the Study Found The study analyzed the funds’ direct equity holdings and responsible-investment policies. It identified investments in
According to a study commissioned by Australia’s Alliance for Gambling Reform and conducted by SustainoMetric, the country’s 20 biggest super funds collectively hold at least AUD 14.8 billion (about $10.3 billion) in listed gambling-related investments. Here’s What the Study Found The study analyzed the funds’ direct equity holdings and responsible-investment policies. It identified investments in
TOSYALI continues to accelerate its energy transition by securing long term international financing for supporting its decarbonization agenda and sustainability investments. The company has signed Export Finance Buyer Credit Agreements worth 187 million euros with BBVA, under Spanish Export Credit Agency Cesce's cover, for Osmaniye and Niğde Projects in its first phase of solar power
Sabah is pitching itself as an Asia-Pacific hub for impact investing, betting that its forests, biodiversity and natural resources can become drivers of economic growth as it seeks private capital for sustainable development. — Picture by Firdaus Latif By Julia Chan First Published: Monday, 13 Jul 2026 11:44 AM MYT KOTA KINABALU, July 13 —
Some people are good at their jobs. Then there is Tonia Ryan, who has turned “getting found online” into something close to magic. She is the creator of Fix Your Search, and if you have ever wondered why some businesses pop up everywhere while others seem invisible...
Grey Business enables startups and SMEs to open US Dollar (USD) corporate accounts, send and receive international payments, convert currencies, and transact using stablecoins such as USDC and USDT...
