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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Okon is in his maiden PSL season</li><li>He has already made himself an SSU regular </li><li>Arendse sees him as a future Bafana great</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

SA 'should be careful' - Bafana Bafana & Nigeria-eligible defender can be better than Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish - Andre Arendse

Okon is in his <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/premier-soccer-league/yv73ms6v1995b5wny16jcfi3" target="_blank">Premier Soccer League</a> breakthrough season and has turned himself into a regular player at SuperSport United.The Johannesburg-born player has made 26 appearances for Matsatsantsa across all competitions and was even their captain when they recently hosted Modern Future in a Caf Confederation Cup match.Okon was named in the recent Bafana Bafana provisional squad and he is also eligible to play for Nigeria where his father hails from. Arendse is keen to see the 20-year-old represent South Africa and sees him as a potential Bafana great and surpass legends like Lucas Radebe, Neil Tovey or Mark Fish.

WHAT HAPPENED?

“Ime Okon is the next one [like Ronwen Williams] of that radar and I don’t want to hype him up and put it out there to say he’s the best because he’s 20 years old I think, maybe for a few months 19, but he’s a super talent, a super talent,” Arendse said as per <a href="https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/bafana-bafana/arendse-predicts-wonderkid-to-surpass-bafana-legends/" target="_blank">iDiski Times</a>. “I know I’m not putting pressure on him because he can handle the pressure, he’s starting to prove it in games, we need to look after him.“And you spoke about dual citizenship, we better be careful we don’t lose him, he’s one for the future," he continued.“I know what I’m talking about, I had the privilege of playing behind some of the best defenders in South Africa – I don’t even need to mention names, you guys know who I’m talking about and I’m telling you now in a few years time he’s going to be up there and even better than those ones,” added Arendse.

WHAT ARENDSE SAID

For now, breaking into the Super Eagles squad appears difficult for Okon as most Nigeria internationals ply their trade in Europe.But with Bafana Bafana doing well at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with PSL players dominating their squad, that could sway the new Nigeria coach to consider Okon. In recent years, Daniel Akpeyi, Olisa Ndah and Stanley Nwabali are some of the PSL players to go to Afcon with the Super Eagles.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The upcoming international period will pass with Okon failing to play international football. But he would be keen to continue with his impressive performances at club level and be considered for June's 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers by either South Africa or Nigeria.

WHAT NEXT FOR OKON?

SA 'should be careful' - Bafana Bafana & Nigeria-eligible defender can be better than Lucas Radebe and Mark Fish - Andre Arendse | Goal.com

Former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Andre Arendse believes SuperSport United defender Ime Okon can become one of the greatest South Africa players ever.

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