Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo during the Sky Bet Championship match at Vicarage Road, Watford. Picture date: Tuesday March 17, 2026.
Sunday May 24, 2026. 15:00
New Nigeria international Arthur Okonkwo has defended his decision to switch international allegiance from England to Nigeria, citing his desire to win trophies for his roots and represent the country of his heritage.
The Wrexham AFC goalkeeper who recently received his first Super Eagles call-up, described the opportunity as a proud and emotional moment for him and his family, discussions for this began last year.
Born in England to parents of Nigerian descent, Okonkwo expressed excitement about contributing to Nigeria’s success and helping the team achieve major honours, strengthening the goalkeeping department as the Super Eagles rebuild.
“It is a privilege to be granted the chance to play for your country. I am extremely excited and eagerly await the opportunity. I have been looking forward to this moment for quite some time, and to finally have the chance is remarkable,” the former England youth international told the Super Eagles media team.
“The process began last summer when I spoke with the manager and the goalkeeping coach. They expressed their interest in me, and the discussions were very encouraging. Since then, we have been working to finalise my switch from England to Nigeria.
“When the moment finally came, the goalkeeping coach was the first to message me, letting me know that I had been selected for the camp. You experience a surge of excitement. The first two people I called were my dad and my mum,” he added.
“The reason for my decision is that I aspire to win trophies for my country. I understand how much Nigerians cherish football and how significant it is to them, and being able to contribute to that for my country and my roots would be extraordinary.”
The 24-yea-old is set to make his senior debut for the Super Eagles in the 2026 Unity Cup in London later this month, starting with Nigeria’s semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on 26 May, with a potential final or third-place match against either Jamaica or India on 30 May.