Former Nigerian international, Andrew Aikhoumogbe has appealed to the Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro to resolve any form of lapses in the goalkeeping department of the team.
He made this known on the backdrop of the recent errors committed by Francis Uzoho in the team’s two international friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
Some of the major highlights of the friendlies was the goalkeeper’s weak effort that led to the Mambas’ first goal of the match and his poor misjudgment of Saudi Arabia’s corner which he parried into his own net.
Reacting to the development, Aikhoumogbe in a chat with Completesports.com stated that the technical crew should fix the goalkeeping issue in the team in a bid to stand a chance of competing for the AFCON title.
He also advised them to utilise other goalkeepers before the tournament.
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“I am really worried that with few months to the commencement of the 2023 AFCO, the goalkeeping department of the Super Eagles is still an issue.
“Yes, goalkeepers are human beings but there are certain mistakes that gives a coach sleepless night. No doubt, Uzoho is a very good goalkeeper but at still stage, errors of these nature shouldn’t be allowed.
“They must fix this issue as quickly as possible if the Super Eagles want to truly compete for the AFCON trophy.”
Recall that the Super Eagles were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the competition at the last edition in Cameroon after a 1-0 loss to Tunisia.
Nigeria last won the tournament in 2013 and will look to win its fourth after recording success at the 1980 and 1994 editions.
11 Comments
Am watching Alhassan Yusuf right now, his play is unconvincing. though he has scored the only goal so far for his team part from that he has not added significant impact. Majority of our players are blown out of proportion by either media or we fans.
You cannot judge him with only one match. He is also a defensive midfielder. Is he breaking the opponent’s attacks often enough? If yes, he is good. He doesn’t need to be a playmaker or dominate midfield.
Goalkeeping problems are not solved. It’s not like maths. A new keeper is no guarantee of error-free performance.
I think NFF technical committee must put Ike Shorounmu as a new Super Eagles trainner,then bring new faces for goalkeeper function just like summoning Chijioke Aniagbosso, Arthur Okonkwo or Tobias or strong goalkeeper from NPFL.
Izoho is not the best goalkeeper that is available in Nigeria. He is not even the first choice goalkeeper in his club, therefore, cannot be trusted to be in the post in our AFCON and World cup qualifying games. There are many goalkeepers available both home and in Europe that would do a better job than Izoho.
Nigeria has all-round goalkeeping issues. Even in the local league, I’m yet to see a good keeper. Enyimba keeper in yesterday’s game (against Wydad) was a total embarrassment.
It has just been laziness on the path of the team handlers to continue to play Uzoho. What happened to the days when active players are the ones invited? We saw the negative impact of this when we missed out on the world Cup but yet they persist with Uzoho. I understand Tobias is eligible to play for Nigeria and he is a modern goal keeper, Peseiro should move swiftly. There is also Okonkwo, Nwabili who are all active.At times I wonder if Peseiro is really serious about winning the afcon or just playing to the gallery.
Imagine going to a tourney with Tobias, okonkwo and adeleye. We need to be serious for once.
Seriously, I do not know who wins a tournament with an inactive goal tender.
If not for politics and corruption, Uzoho will never be considered for the 4th choice GK option.
Someone that can’t command a regular run in a below top 1000 clubsides and playing in an unrated league should never be involved in National Team duty..
For now the top deserving and available goalkeepers are Nwabali, Adeleye, Osagwe, and Johnathan Rasheed..
Younger folks like Josh Chinuzor Oluwayemi, Arthur Okoknwo, Saheed, Aniogboso, and Ovie Ejeheri can be groomed along.
The nff and national team officials should be investigated. if Uzoho or any inactive player appears on the list of invited players for any tournament.
Not only goalkeeping. The defensive midfield and attacking midfield are also lacking. Ndidi is no longer physically fit for the defensive midfield role and Iwobi and Aribo are both not in form. Osimken and Boniface will need service from the midfield.
The midfielders are not the problem, it is the pattern of pesero that is limiting the middle men, if you are playing two midfielders in these modern days football, you canot expect one of the going too offensive, because it will back fire, if pesero stick with the formation we will suffer, add onyeka to the middle and make them three, you will get the best from iwobi, but i know with the emergance of boniface, i doubt if 442 will ever change, but i will prefer him playing 352 if he realy want to succeed with the two man forward. As for goalkeeping, at this stage akpeyi should be recall, he is better than all we have now, that marez freekick can happen to anybody including buffon, we where mad at him becos of the lost but the guy sha good. the insurance keeper is very good too he can do better than this ozuor.