Super Eagles and Watford goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has compared himself to former Brazilian goalkeeping legend Nelson de Jesus Silva( Dida).

The 22 year old shot stopper just linked up with Watford this summer after his loan to his former club Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam in January.

Okoye and the Hornets will have to strive to return to the Premier League after the club was relegated last season.

Okoye claimed Dida was his goalkeeping hero.

“Easy Dida! I don’t even need to think about that answer,” Okoye told Watfordobserver.co.uk.

“When I was young I always wanted to be him. I loved AC Milan back then and he was a legend,a real beast in goal.

“People did call me ‘the young version of Dida,’ which I liked.

“I think experience is the most important thing not your age.

“You can be a young keeper like Gianluigi Donnaruma of Italy :he is 23 but has the experience of a keeper who is 35 years old.

“I’m not experienced like Donnaruma yet,I wouldn’t try to say that ! But for me in general it’s not about how old you are,it’s about the experience you have of the game .

“What you make of the time you have on the pitch is important .

“If you keep learning and try to take good advice from every coach you have,you can be experienced at a young age.”

Okoye made 30 appearances in the Eredivisie last season.

Since making his debut in 2019 he has played 16 matches for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

By Toju Sote

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