Gernot Rohr has scouted a Nigerian keeper in Germany

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Friday Dec 01, 2017. 12:30

Nigerian national team coach Gernot Rohr has found a new goalkeeper to keep his options open ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Rohr says they have scouted Fortuna Dusseldorf's keeper Maduka Okoye to keep their options open heading to Russia next year.

The 18-year-old will ease Rohr's headache as they have a mini crisis in the goalkeeping department.

The issues resulted after the sides first choice goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with Leukaemia.

Rohr who is in Russia for the FIFA World Cup draw, said he will add Okoye to his pool of players next year when they play their friendly games.

”There’s another goalkeeper we have in our sight now. He plays with Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany, Maduka Okoye, born in Germany but has agreed to play for Nigeria,“ Rohr told Owngoalnigeria.com.

”We will look at him in the coming games to see if he will be able to push for a spot in the team we are preparing for the World Cup.”

Okoye was born in Germany, but to Nigerian parents and is yet to keep goal for the first team of the second division team in Germany.

The keeper will become the third German-born player to pledge allegiance to the Super Eagles, following Leon Balogun and Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee.