Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has said 18-year-old Fortuna Dusseldorf goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has agreed to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria.

Rohr is considering his options as he looks to arrive at the Russia 2018 World Cup with a top-class keeper.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported on January 11 that the 18-year-old Okoye was one of the German-born players being monitored by Rohr, who is searching for a replacement for Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Thirty-one year-old Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukaemia after returning for preseason with his Championship club Wolves on July 6.

The British-born shot-stopper, who switched his international allegiance to Nigeria two years ago, is currently undergoing treatment and has a remote chance of making the squad to the Russia 2018 World Cup.

Ikeme was in goal for the Eagles when they battled to a goalless draw against Swaziland in their preliminary round Russia 2018 qualifier at the Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba on November 13, 2015. Sunday Oliseh, who was in charge of the team then, also featured Ikeme in the return leg won by Nigeria 2-0 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt four days later. He only kept the group stage qualifier against Zambia in Ndola, which the Eagles won 2-1.

While it is good to invite some newbies into d team... I think those that helped qualify us for the mundial should be given due consideration. We don't want what happened during our last World cup outing whereby some random players like Shola Ameobi and some few guys who didn't participate in the buildup were called in as against players that brought the ticket. My one pence though!