Kwara United goalkeeper Coach, Dele Aiyenugba, has disclosed that Malian goalkeeper, Khalifa Quattara, will thrive in the EuroMatch/Nigeria Premier Football League, Completesports.com reports.
Quattara made his Kwara United debut in the 2-2 draw against Kano Pillars in the opening fixture of the 2026/2027 season inside the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin.
“Kwara United, as a team, has good collection of players. But I can only speak about the goalkeeping area because that’s my own specific area,”Aiyenugba, a former Nigeria Super Eagles goalkeeper began.
“Not minding the draw (2-2) against Kano Pillars, I think we have a good team an I know we have good goalkeepers.
“Quattara just joined us from Mali. That (game vs Kano Pillars) is his first game. We’ve other goalkeepers too and I think goalkeeping won’t be a problem for us this season.”
Aiyenugba, a proud back – back winner of the prestigious CAF Champions League title with Enyimba in 2003 and 2004, is reputed to have a special quality in stopping penalty kicks.
Asked if it will be possible for to produce a goalkeeper who can successfully take after him in stopping penalty kicks, Aiyenugba, a former Bnei Yehuda of Israel shot stopper responded in the affirmative.
“Yes, I think its a possibility. Its just about hard work, focus and concentration. There’s no doubt it can be possible,” Aiyenugba, whose son, Daniel Aiyenugba is Beyond Limit FC goalkeeper sounded.
Aiyenugba had an illustrious career on the domestic and European stages, representing Nigeria in both the junior and senior levels as well as helping Enyimba win the CAF Champions League, twice in 2003 and 2004.
He traveled to Israel where he featured for Yehuda (2007–2016), Hapoel Ashkelon (2016–2018), Hapoel Iksal (2018–2019) and Hapoel Afula (2019–2020) before returning to the Nigerian scene with a move to his boyhood club, Kwara United.
Aiyenugba, with 17 caps, called time on his playing career in 2024 and took to coaching with Kwara United as goalkeeper coach.
By Sab Osuji
