I want to win AFCON and compete in the World Cup – Nigeria goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo

Nigeria goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has set his sights on major international success after receiving another call-up to the Super Eagles squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The 24-year-old Charlton Athletic goalkeeper has been included in Éric Chelle’s squad for Nigeria’s upcoming qualifying matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

Okonkwo earned his latest invitation after making his senior international debut at the 2026 Unity Cup, where he kept clean sheets in Nigeria’s victories over Zimbabwe and Jamaica.

The goalkeeper described his return to the national team as a proud moment for both himself and his family, revealing that he had been waiting for the opportunity for almost a year.

“I’m super happy. It’s been a moment I’ve been waiting for almost a year, trying to get everything sorted, so I’m just happy to be here and be with my teammates again. And yeah, it’s a proud moment for me and my family,” Okonkwo said.

Having made an encouraging start to his international career, Okonkwo is now hoping to establish himself as a dependable option in the Super Eagles goalkeeping department.

The latest call-up gives him another opportunity to compete for the number-one position while gaining valuable experience in competitive international football.

However, the Charlton goalkeeper has ambitions that extend beyond securing his place in the squad. Okonkwo wants to help Nigeria challenge for continental honours and also represent the country at the FIFA World Cup.

“I want to win the AFCON and compete in the World Cup,” Okonkwo said.

His immediate focus will be on helping Nigeria make a strong start to their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign, with the Super Eagles set to face Madagascar before travelling to Bissau to take on Guinea-Bissau.

After making two appearances at the Unity Cup without conceding a goal, Okonkwo will be hoping to continue his positive start whenever he gets the opportunity to feature for the national team.

For the goalkeeper, the latest invitation represents another step towards achieving his long-term ambitions with Nigeria. With AFCON qualification now the immediate objective, Okonkwo is determined to contribute to the Super Eagles’ campaign while continuing his push to become a regular at international level.