Wrexham vs Nottm Forest: New Super Eagles goalkeeper puts pressure on Eric Chelle after FA Cup heroics

Anglo-Nigerian goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has just made Eric Chelle's Super Eagles job significantly harder after a masterclass in the FA Cup.

On a rain-soaked Friday night in North Wales, the 24-year-old goalkeeper produced a performance that will echo far beyond the borders of Wrexham.

In what's already being dubbed a ‘Hollywood classic,’ Okonkwo was the hero as Wrexham dumped Premier League side Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup in a dramatic penalty shootout, following a pulsating 3-3 draw after extra time.

For Nigerian football fans watching from afar, the timing couldn't be more poignant or more frustrating.

The match itself was pure FA Cup chaos. Wrexham raced to a 2-0 halftime lead through Liberato Cacace and Ollie Rathbone, leaving the traveling Forest faithful stunned.

Igor Jesus pulled one back for the Premier League side, but when captain Dominic Hyam nodded home in the 74th minute to make it 3-1, the upset looked complete.

Then came the comeback. Callum Hudson-Odoi had other ideas, striking twice in the dying embers, including an absolutely sensational 89th-minute volley, to drag Forest level and force extra time.

But throughout the madness, one constant remained: Arthur Okonkwo standing tall between the posts.

The scoreline might suggest a goalkeeper under siege, but those who watched the match know better. Okonkwo didn't just keep Wrexham alive, he carried them through Forest's most dangerous spells.

In the 56th minute, with Forest building momentum, Douglas Luiz stepped up to take a free-kick from a dangerous position. What followed was world-class. Okonkwo launched himself through the air, fingertips outstretched, to tip the Brazilian's curling effort over the bar, a save that would've graced any stadium in the world.

During the grueling 30 minutes of extra time, he was called upon repeatedly. The standout moment came when Neco Williams unleashed a strike destined for the top corner. Once again, Okonkwo defied gravity, tipping it over the crossbar to preserve parity. In total, the new Nigerian goalkeeper made seven saves in 120 minutes.

Then came the shootout, where legends are made and hearts are broken, Nigerians will remember after that DR Congo heartbreak.

Wrexham veteran James McClean stepped up first and missed, handing the advantage to Forest. Cue Arthur Okonkwo.

When Igor Jesus placed the ball on the spot, Okonkwo guessed right, diving low to his right to parry the effort away. Momentum shifted. The crowd roared.

With the shootout poised at 4-3 in Wrexham's favour, Forest's Omari Hutchinson, Okonkwo’s former teammate at Arsenal, knew he had to score to keep his side alive.

Okonkwo dropped low to his left, strong hand pushing the shot wide. Cue pandemonium. Cue pitch invasion. Cue a goalkeeper wheeling away in celebration, a water bottle still clutched in his glove.

The numbers tell their own story. This was Wrexham's first victory over Premier League opposition since 1999, when they beat Middlesbrough.

It was also their first encounter with top-flight opposition since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney's Hollywood takeover nearly five years ago. For Okonkwo personally, the timing borders on cinematic.

Here's where the story gets even more compelling for Super Eagles supporters.

Just days before his FA Cup heroics, it was confirmed that FIFA had officially approved Okonkwo's switch from England to Nigeria.

Born in London to Nigerian parents, the 6'6" shot-stopper represented England through the youth ranks from U15 to U18 before deciding his future lay with the three-time African champions.

The decision came after a decisive meeting with new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle during the Unity Cup in London. The FIFA paperwork was finalised in late December 2025, making him fully eligible to represent Nigeria at senior level.

The cruel irony? The timing meant he missed the AFCON 2025 squad registration deadline by a whisker. While his new teammates battle Algeria today in Marrakech, Okonkwo can only watch from Wales, his Green and White jersey still unworn.

Okonkwo's arrival has created what might be Nigeria's deepest goalkeeping pool in a decade and arguably Eric Chelle's most luxurious selection dilemma.

Stanley Nwabali currently holds the number one spot and has been solid throughout this AFCON campaign. Maduka Okoye has rediscovered his form and confidence. Francis Uzoho brings experience and reliability. Teenage sensation Ebenezer Harcourt represents the future.

And now, after Friday night's masterclass, Arthur Okonkwo has thrown his gloves into the ring with authority.

At 24 years old, standing 6'6" with Champions League-level reflexes and ice-cold composure under pressure, he represents everything Nigeria has been searching for, a long-term solution to years of goalkeeping inconsistency. The question isn't whether Okonkwo will get his chance, it's when.

With 2027 AFCON qualifiers on the horizon, Chelle has decisions to make. Does he stick with the established order? Does he rotate to keep everyone sharp? Or does he hand the gloves to the man who just embarrassed a Premier League side on one of English football's biggest stages?

For now, though, the focus shifts back to Morocco, where Nigeria face Algeria at 5:00 PM Nigerian time in a quarterfinal that opens a new chapter in a historic rivalry that could define their tournament.

But make no mistake, whether Chelle watched from his hotel room or not, Arthur Okonkwo just announced himself to Nigerian football in the loudest way possible.