​GOALKEEPER CRISIS: It will be wrong to go back to Enyeama –Amunike

Some fans of Nigerian football have been calling for the return of veteran goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, to the Super Eagles squad, as the team is currently seeking tickets to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the 2019 Nations Cup in Cameroon.

The ex-Enyimba star, who left the team after a disagreement with former coach Sunday Oliseh in 2015, was due to hold talks with Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, about a possible return before he was ruled out for the end-part of last season with a knee injury.

The Eagles have been faced with goalkeeping challenges of late, even as their recent defeat to Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Uyo has been blamed by some on the man at the post.

However, Ex-Nigeria international, Emmanuel Amunike, is of the opinion that the Lille of France shot stopper should be allowed to go, as his decision to rest his international career is clear.

Amunike asserted that to convince the former number one goalkeeper to return would be creating a problem where there is none.

“Why do we like to create problems where there is none?” the one-time African Footballer of the Year was quoted to have said by Vanguard.

Read Also: Everton sign Nigerian wonderkid Henry Onyekuru

“Enyeama has decided to rest his international career for good. We should respect his decision. It will be wrong to go back to Enyeama. There are others who need to grow and if you don’t make them face challenges there is no way they can grow.”

He added, “If we are thinking of bringing back Enyeama, then we can as well go and beg Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu or Amunike to return. Let’s consider Enyeama’s case closed.”

Carl Ikeme, who has been Eagles first choice goalkeeper, is back from injury. And Amunike said: “It is good he (Ikeme) is back. Every player is important to the team so, I see his return as a good omen for the team.”

The 1994 World Cup participant also warned Super Eagles coaches and players not to take the 2018 World Cup qualifying match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon lightly.

“To win a match, the team has to be well prepared. And that is my advice to both the Super Eagles handlers and the players. They must prepare hard for that game because it is going to be a tough game.”

Nigeria will play Cameroon on August 28 in Uyo, and six days later, travel to play the return leg in Cameroon.

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now