Super Eagles number one goalkeeper Maduka Okoye suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury in his Sparta Rotterdam’s loss to Ajax on Sunday, dealing a potentially disastrous to Nigeria’s chances at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Okoye picked up the injury in the first half when he was clattered by a teammate as he attempted to claim a cross.

The goalkeeper tried to continue but had to come off in the 24th-minute of the Eredivisie encounter.

While the injury appeared not to be serious, the potential of being without another key player in Cameroon would still leave Nigeria Football Federation officials and Super Eagles coached deeply worried barely a week after first-choice striker Victor Osimhen was ruled out of the competition with a facial injury.

Nigeria as well as Sparta will be sweating on the fitness of Okoye who recently sealed a multi-million pound move to Premier League side Watford FC.

Sparta are currently embroiled in a relegation dogfight and will not want to be without the services of their first-choice goalkeeper who will also be pivotal to Nigeria’s chances of claiming a fourth African crown.