Wrexham hail Okonkwo after Super Eagles call-up

Wrexham have congratulated Arthur Okonkwo after the goalkeeper earned his first senior Super Eagles call-up for the upcoming Unity Cup in London.

The Championship side reacted on social media shortly after the announcement, marking another milestone for the 24-year-old shot-stopper.

The call-up comes after FIFA cleared him to switch international allegiance to Nigeria in April, ending a long period of eligibility uncertainty.

Okonkwo previously represented England at the youth level, featuring from Under-15 to Under-18, before opting to commit his future to Nigeria through his family heritage.

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Nigeria’s Unity Cup campaign will begin against Zimbabwe at The Valley on May 26, with the competition concluding on May 30 with either a final or third-place fixture. Jamaica and India will meet in the other semi-final.

Following the London tournament, the Super Eagles will travel to Warsaw for a friendly against Poland on June 3, before wrapping up their international camp against Portugal in Leiria on June 10.

Okonkwo’s rise has continued steadily since joining Wrexham permanently in 2024 after leaving Arsenal.

The 6ft 6in goalkeeper became a key figure in the club’s Championship campaign, making 39 league appearances in the 2025/26 season and delivering consistent performances in a demanding run.

His development began at Arsenal’s Hale End academy, which he joined at the age of eight, before signing his first professional contract in 2021.

With first-team chances limited at the Emirates Stadium, he spent time on loan at Crewe Alexandra and Austrian side Sturm Graz before securing a permanent move to Wrexham following the retirement of Ben Foster.

Okonkwo’s introduction into the Super Eagles setup adds to the competition in goal, where Stanley Nwabali remains the first choice, and Maduka Okoye is also in contention.

Nigeria see the position as one that still requires long-term stability ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Before his call-up, Okonkwo had spoken about his excitement at the prospect of joining the squad, highlighting Samuel Chukwueze as one of the players he was eager to meet.

However, Chelle has confirmed that senior players will not feature at the Unity Cup, meaning the goalkeeper will have to wait for his first full interaction with established members of the team.