After the latest International friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique, football fans have continued to express worries over the goalkeeping issues in the Super eagles as Nigeria builds up to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The abysmal showing of the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho in recent matches for Nigeria has further heighten the fears of several football stakeholders who have called for an urgent attention to be given to the quality of goalkeepers in the national team if the country is to excel at next year’s AFCON.
Former Nigerian international Idah Peterside has called for the return of former Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the national team to salvage the goalkeeping issues in the team. Idah, who was live on Sportsville on Channels television, said Enyeama should be engaged as the Eagles goalkeepers’ coach to the AFCON.
According to the former Moroka Swallows of South Africa goalkeeper, the presence of Enyeama, who was capped 101 times for Nigeria, in the Eagles will motivate the likes of Uzoho, Maduka Okoye, Adebayo Adeleye, and other goalies, to step up their game.
“If we bring in an Enyeama as the goalkeeper coach, his wealth of experience as a former AFCON winner and two times World Cup goalkeeper for Nigeria will significantly help to improve the goalies in camp”.
“The current Eagles goalkeepers crave a leader; somebody they can look up to and truly learn from and I believe a Vincent Enyeama will provide that before and during the AFCON tournament.”
Francis Uzoho (left) and Maduka Okoye.
Peterside further said he does not know the current eagles goalkeeper trainer and this could breed speculations that the fellow does not have the requisite experience to support the national team goalkeepers.
“We can’t have several goalkeepers who have kept for Nigeria in the past and have someone whose name I don’t know as the national team goalkeeper coach in 2023, this is totally unacceptable,” said Peterside, referring to the national team’s current goalkeepers’ trainer, Olatunji Baruwa.
“In as much as Vincent Enyeama remains my preferred choice as the goalies coach, I think a Peter Rufai, will also do a great job in that capacity if given the opportunity”.
On the chances of Nigeria winning its fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Cote d’Ivoire, Idah said he’s confident the Eagles will get to the semifinal if the defensive and goalkeeping issues are addressed but wouldn’t guarantee Nigeria winning the tournament.
Nigeria has been drawn in Group A alongside the host Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau and Equatorial Guinea.
The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will run from 13 January to 11 February 2024.
…Courtesy Guardian/picture AFP