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
An LLC, or Limited Liability Company, combines the advantages of corporations and partnerships, providing personal liability protection for its members. This means your personal assets are shielded from business debts. Moreover, LLCs typically enjoy pass-through taxation, which simplifies how profits and losses are reported on personal tax returns. With flexibility in management structure, LLCs can
You are here: Home / Cryptocurrency News / Wintermute Launches Armitage DeFi Vault Platform for Institutions Wintermute has announced Armitage, a new DeFi vault curation business for professional investors and institutions. The algorithmic trading firm said the product will support risk management and yield generation in decentralized lending markets through on-chain, non-custodial vaults for users
A sole proprietor business is a straightforward structure where you’re the sole owner, and there’s no legal distinction between you and your business. This means you have complete control over operations and profits, but it additionally means you bear personal responsibility for any debts or liabilities. With minimal paperwork and simple tax management, it’s an
You are here: Home / Cryptocurrency News / SUI Price Eyes $1.50 as Ramp Integration Boosts Bullish Momentum SUI price has gained momentum following Ramp’s announcement to support Sui-based USDC payments, driven by growing optimism around Sui’s expanding payment and utility ecosystem. Stablecoin payment integrations are becoming increasingly important for Layer-1 ecosystems as blockchain networks
An LLC, or Limited Liability Company, combines the advantages of corporations and partnerships, providing personal liability protection for its members. This means your personal assets are shielded from business debts. Moreover, LLCs typically enjoy pass-through taxation, which simplifies how profits and losses are reported on personal tax returns. With flexibility in management structure, LLCs can
You are here: Home / Cryptocurrency News / Wintermute Launches Armitage DeFi Vault Platform for Institutions Wintermute has announced Armitage, a new DeFi vault curation business for professional investors and institutions. The algorithmic trading firm said the product will support risk management and yield generation in decentralized lending markets through on-chain, non-custodial vaults for users
A sole proprietor business is a straightforward structure where you’re the sole owner, and there’s no legal distinction between you and your business. This means you have complete control over operations and profits, but it additionally means you bear personal responsibility for any debts or liabilities. With minimal paperwork and simple tax management, it’s an
You are here: Home / Cryptocurrency News / SUI Price Eyes $1.50 as Ramp Integration Boosts Bullish Momentum SUI price has gained momentum following Ramp’s announcement to support Sui-based USDC payments, driven by growing optimism around Sui’s expanding payment and utility ecosystem. Stablecoin payment integrations are becoming increasingly important for Layer-1 ecosystems as blockchain networks
Key Points Tesla's energy generation and storage segment generated 27% revenue growth last year. The company's non-automotive segments were able to help offset a double-digit decline in auto revenue in 2025. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) is known for its electric vehicles (EVs), and while they
Hard drive company WD promoted long-term operations and sustainability executive Jackie Jung to become its first chief sustainability officer in February, as it steps up sales to companies building AI data centers. Her vision: Turn sustainability into a “brand” for WD, a strategy that reduces risk for the $6 billion company (formerly known as Western
If there is one thing Nigerians understand well, it is how to spot opportunity inside hardship. In 2026, that mindset will matter more than ever. The economy is tough, competition is rising, and many people are looking for smarter ways to earn, build, and survive. But even in a difficult environment, some businesses still stand
