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Rohr Rules Out New Players Invitation For AFCON 2019

Rohr Rules Out New Players Invitation For AFCON 2019

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has ruled out bringing in new players to bolster his squad ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The three-time champions are are returning to the tournament after missing back-to-back editions in 2015 and 2017.

The West Africans won the competition on their last appearance in 2013 in South Africa.

Despite admitting that he has goalkeeping concerns – with first-choice Francis Uzoho struggling for regular football this season, Rohr is not ready to call up another goalkeeper.

“We have a little challenge because our young goalkeeper Uzoho has not really played at his club this season,” Rohr told BBC Sport.

“Uzoho made one mistake in the last qualifier [against Seychelles] but we gave him a chance with the youth under-23 and it was good for his confidence.

“Daniel Akpeyi is playing now for a big team in South Africa and doing very well. Our third goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa too is good so we can work harder with them.

“We have a good spirit as a team since the World Cup, so there’s no time to bring in new players,” Rohr said.

Also Read: U-17 AFCON 2019: Golden Eaglets To Face Guinea In Semi-Final

The West Africans have struggled to fill the void created by the shock retirement of the country’s most capped player, goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama in 2015, and the premature exit of his replacement Carl Ikeme over health reason.

A lack of experience has been highlighted as a weakness but Rohr, who led Gabon to the last eight of the 2012 Nations Cup on home soil, is focusing on turning his young team into a major force in North Africa this summer.

“We can work on every aspect to improve the team, that is why we have the friendly matches,” he added.

“We qualified without two of our most experienced players in Obi Mikel and Victor Moses.

“I know what pressure is because I have experienced it with Gabon as hosts in 2012 – so this [challenge] is nothing new.

“For the World Cup our president said we could go to the semi-finals but we saw what happened – now in Egypt he says we have to win it.

“We work now to make a great tournament then we take it from there.”

The three-time African champions will start their 2019 AFCON campaign in Group B with Guinea, debutants Madagascar and Burundi. The tournament will take place from 21 June to 19 July.


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COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 45
  • “Daniel Akpeyi is playing now for a big team in South Africa and doing very well.” Gernot Rohr.

    I am a self-confessed Akpeyi fan number one. However, even I find that statement by Rohr as being economical and quite generous indeed.

    Akpeyi is doing OK in my view; not “very well”.

    Am I also right in thinking that Akpeyi is now number two and Ezenwa number three?

    If so, what is the rationale for this?

    I am not an Ezenwa fan by any stretch of the imagination but I think he has done well when called upon and is playing regularly in the NPFL.

    Anyway, good luck to the goalkeepers – all three of them. I pray they stay injury free, play regularly and in the case of Uzoho, may he have the mental strength to put recent setbacks behind him and bounce back even stronger.

    ***Coach Rohr, after the Afcon, please consider my Alampasu o!***

  • Chima E Samuels 5 years ago

    Holy Mary Akpeyi is seen as a disaster in the South African league pls Rohr if you are blind open your eyes. Ezenwa is the best for now. Uzoho and Akpeyi should not stand at the goal post else Nigeria will wobble and fumble. Mr Rohr be positive like Manu who goes into any tournament like a lion ready to dominate and win instead of this your dirty mind games to make future excuses.

    • Larry 5 years ago

      You are a very smart person.
      It takes common sense to know that recent statements from this coach are prepared excuses for impending poor performance at the nations cup.
      ” the president said we could go semi final at the world cup, we saw what happened Now he says we have to win it”
      Mr.Rohr, it doesn’t really matter if you invite new players or not, perform below expectation at the nations cup and you are fired.

      • So allow him to do his work then fire him if he does not perform

        • Simon 5 years ago

          And then we wait for another 4years you think every competition is a joke the World Cup now is past and we flopped do you think chances come everyday in life?

  • Akpeyi has of recent not been getting game time for his club in South Africa.So I wonder why Rohr avers he has been doing well in his new club.

    Meanwhile, I still can’t fathom why he has been overlooking a goalkeeper in the mould of David Nwolokor of Slovakian top-flight,SKF Sered. He happens to be the goalkeeper with the most game time among Nigerian goalkeepers plying their trade in an European top-flight. I think he can help ease our goalkeeping worries.

    Also, Arthur Okonkwo of Arsenal should gradually be infused into the Nigerian set-up starting from either the U-20 or U-23 team. That dude is one hell of a goalkeeping talent. Losing out on him would be suicidal. NFF should please act fast, especially as he seems to have indicated interest to switch international allegiance to Nigeria.

  • Oakfield 5 years ago

    Ezenwa should be brought in ASAP to replace uzoho, he is much better than the latter. If ezenwa had manned the post in Russia, I guess we would’ve gone farther than we did. Mr Rohr abeg, drop uzoho for ezenwa, no sentiments biko..

  • Gritty - 08109855313 5 years ago

    Uzoho’ strength over the 2 others is his commendable one on one saves, when he is the last man standing. Recall, our friendly with Poland, Uzoho vs Lewandoski, and many others.

    However, Ezenwa should work harder to claim the number one glove and be more serious in btw the sticks ( He jokes a times during delay tactics in a match).

    As someone mentioned above, maybe after AFCON, Goal keeper Dele Alampasu should be given a chance to prove himself too. I saw great confidence, sharp reflexes, a leader, and beautiful saves from him during the age group world cup where he won the golden glove and he comfortably benched Uzoho at that tournament.

  • Edoman. 5 years ago

    Oga Rohr, Please look at “Sebastian Osigwe” as a Goalkeeper, He play his game for a Swiss Club. He is saying he would certainly love to play for Nigeria, his father land. He is more exposed and experienced than Akpeyi who is not seriously reckoned with in South Africa at all.

  • Pompei 5 years ago

    So goalkeepers don finish for Nigeria? Are these three really the best that we have worldwide?

  • JOHN CENA 5 years ago

    So what happens to Azubuike Okechukwu. We need him in the defensive midfield position as an alternative to Ndidi

  • If you going to drop
    uzoho from being number 1 then you should also drop leon balogun from starting matches ahead of kenneth omeruo

  • Omo9ja 5 years ago

    “We have a little challenge because our young goalkeeper Uzoho has not really played at his club this season,” Rohr told BBC Sport.

    “Uzoho made one mistake in the last qualifier [against Seychelles] but we gave him a chance with the youth under-23 and it was good for his confidence

    Daniel Akpeyi is playing now for a big team in South Africa and doing very well. Our third goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa too is good so we can work harder with them”

    Ah, coach Rohr tuntun gba penalty losi throw in again? Hmm, what kind of talk is this?

    We have “Sebastian Osigwe” who is willing to play for Nigeria for so long but Mr. Rohr refuse to call him to camp. Far better than three goalkeepers we have presently. More exposed, bold, confidence and young. Check for his videos on Instagram.

    We also have African Buffon but this coach is wasting Nigerian talents for nothing. What is going on where?

    We have a young Nigerian goalkeeper in Arsenal team still this coach Rohr decided not to call him to camp.

    How long do we want to do this for Nigerians?

    Coach Amunike did not spend much time with the Tanzanian national team still he qualified the Country to this year Afcon and he also have a strong squad to face the big teams in the championship.

    Coach Manu Garba built a new and energetic team less than 2 years still, he has a strong team that everyone is talking about today. Please don’t tell me that coach
    Manu Garba is with under 17 team.

    So, Oga Rohr what is going on with your team? When am talking now, they will say am seeing what others doesn’t see.

    Same scenarios every day. Same excuses every day.

    Akpeyi has nothing to do with Super Eagles.

    Ezenwa is not bad but is he the best we have in the Country and abroad for our beloved Country?

    Uzoho is for the future but coach Rohr couldn’t see it that way. Uzoho should be learning from other goalkeepers. 20 minutes is the best for the young goalkeeper in every match for now.

    This is clearly telling us that the entire crew of the team already failed to manage our team

    I’m not bothering myself anymore on coach Rohr because he have nothing to offer Nigeria.

    Last but not least, hope to see good football from Super Eagles in Egypt.

    I am advising you my people, do not have too much hope on coach Rohr. If you do, well you are on your own o. God bless Nigeria!!!

  • Omo9ja 5 years ago

    What is going on “here” I mean to say.
    God bless Nigeria!!!

  • AMAZING_GRACE 5 years ago

    I never knew that Sebastian Osigwe had once played for Nigeria @ U20 level.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVSvuJfJ-q0

    • @AMAZING_GRACE, and Sebastian Osigwe looks quite decent in goal. His awareness, reflexes and blockages are impressive, considering this is a few years back and he should even be more experienced now.

      I really don’t understand Rohr’s statement about not inviting any more new players. I understand that the striking roles are more or else done and dusted, is he saying he’ll only call Akpeyi, Uzoho and Ezenwa for the initial camp list of 35?

      How then will those 3 average goalkeepers get challenged and up their games? How about inviting potentials like this Osigwe and Alampasu to fight for a possible spot in the final 3 and displace any of the current Rohr’s favourites?

      Imagine Akpeyi that was brought as replacement for Khune is now 2nd choice to the SA club, Kaizer Chief’s former reserve goslie, Bvuma? Dude couldn’t even seize his chance in the absence of Khune. SMH.

      With all his “exploits,” Ezenwa is still with an obscure Katsina United that is not even reckoned with in the NPFL. Uzoho appears to have been on a downward trend, conceeding against Seychelles. I wonder what will happen with a Mane.

      Oga Rohr, yes, maybe no new faces in the forward line. But please provide enough competition in other departments in your initial list. For example, Etebo should not be taking our set pieces. He keeps wasting those golden chances. Even Okocha in his old age is a better set piece taker. With all the hype around Ndidi, I think he gets lazy sometimes with defensive duties and hobbles lazily when he loses the ball.

      Scout for other 3 good goalkeepers to join your current starters. And no, please don’t use “training materials,” like some average NPFL goalkeepers everyone knows will still be dropped for Akpeyi, Uzoho and Ezenwa in the final 23. I’m talking about good trialists like Osigwe, Alampasu, Daniel and that young Arsenal U23 goalkeepers. Let these 4 join your favorite 3 to fight for the SE gloves.

      • Amazing_Grace 5 years ago

        @kel, yes I completely agree with you. For strikers, we have several options which has positively enhanced healthy competition in this department. This cannot be said of our goalkeeping department. We definitely need to invite one or two. Infact this aspect should be described as a “state of emergency” given the scenario @kel portrayed.

        We are almost there, however the team needs a bit of fine tunning, this little, but significant. difference is what makes a team thick.

  • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

    Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has reignited his interest in Swiss-born goalkeeper Sebastian Osigwe as he broadens his search for a top-class keeper for the Super Eagles.

    Rohr was forced to make a rookie keeper Francis Uzoho his first choice at the Russia 2018 World Cup, after his number one man Carl Ikeme was ruled out of the tournament after he was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in July 2017.

    The 32-year-old British-born former Wolves keeper eventually announced his retirement from football.

    And Rohr, who has since offered Ikeme a role in his coaching staff to assist him in the goalkeeping department, has reportedly pencilled in SC Kriens star Osigwe, who last year expressed his interest in representing Nigeria at Russia 2018, as one keeper who could compete with Uzoho for the number one role.

    Despite plying his trade in the backwaters of European football, the 65-year-old former Nice manager reckons Osigwe, who was born to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother, as a good keeper.

    The former Burkina Faso coach reportedly considered inviting the 24-year-old for some of his World Cup friendlies.

    Rohr, who had earlier succeeded in convincing Europe-born Nigerians, such as new Benfica right-back Tyronne Ebuehi, Lokomotiv Moscow left-back Bryan Idowu and Torino defender Ola Aina to switch their international allegiance to the country of their fathers, has repeatedly promised to give more Nigerian- born players abroad an opportunity to play for the Eagles.

    Our correspondent learnt that the former Gabon manager allegedly lacks faith in Enyimba’s Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Chippa United’s Daniel Akpeyi, though they made his World Cup squad.

    Ezenwa was favourite to take over from Ikeme after he showed his class in the World Cup qualifying double-header against African champions Cameroon.

    But the 29-year-old former Ocean Boys keeper lost his place after Deportivo la coruna loanee Uzoho showed glimpses of his quality when he replaced fumbling Akpeyi in the 4–2 defeat of Argentina in a friendly affair in November 2017.

    Rohr confirmed to our correspondent in Lagos on Friday that Switzerland junior international Osigwe was one of the keepers he was monitoring.

    “Uzoho is our number one keeper and we have Ezenwa and Akpeyi but we are monitoring more keepers,” he said.

    “We are monitoring the keeper in Switzerland (Osigwe) and some other young keepers.”

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      There is this adage in hausa language that says ‘a man who the world hates will be accused of raising dust even if he falls inside a pool of water’. Hatred really does make one think upside down. Some people apparently think they know the coach’s job more than him. All of a sudden a Seb Osigwe whose only international taste of football is a single appearance in an U20 friendly match is now more exposed and bolder than Uzoho (with tens of cleansheets in all divisions in spain including the laliga, 15 international caps and world cup experience), Ezenwa (U20WC, Olympics, CHAN and World cup experience) and Akpeyi (U20, Olympics and WC experience). Suddenly…we should discard all our current goalkeepers and take Arsenal U18, Foturna Dusseldof B (B underlined, bold and capital) and SC Kriens to AFCON. The say Uzoho cannot face Mane…just because of his 1st unforced error in 15 matches against Seychelles, yet it is goalies that have never tasted 1st division football in their lives (not to talk of senior international football) that will win afcon.
      Make no mistake about it….I’m not against competiton…infact i’m head and shoulders for it. But my question is…..are these competitors heads and shoulders above the ones we have…? The man that was claiming Osigwe is FAR BETTER than Uzoho, how many of Osigwe’s matches has he watch this season to come to that conclusion….I doubt if he has watched any. Others are still referencing alampasu’s prowess of his U17 days of 6 years ago, pls how many of his games have you seen this season. And even if the coach were to try out all these goalies who arent even better than the ones we have, in which games should he have done so….in the important qualifying games…? or in the 3 friendlies we have played since the world cup..? If in the 3 friendlies…is 45 minutes enough to conclude a rookie goalkeeper is good enough to be thrown into AFCON ahead of the ones we’ve had for some time now…? Or maybe by the time we are playing the next 2 friendlies, we should still be trying in out whc goalkeeper are we gonna take to AFCON and which one are we gonna drop….then after those friendlies we will now throw a ballot for which of the 3 selected should be the 1st choice…..Quite laughable.
      And do all these critics even understand that Goalkeepers and their defenders build some chemistry and understanding on the pitch overtime…? So how many games each will you need to give these new goalkeepers before that build just enough chemistry to go into a major tournament…? Some people are acclaiming Manu built a strong team in 2 years, but they dont also want to acknowledge that the golden eaglets have been having long term camps of between 1 to 3 months straight and playing lots of friendlies with clubs and invitational international tournaments before arriving at a final squad good enough for the U17 AFCON (unlike the senior squad that hardly has 1 week training and up to 10 matches annually), yet we saw how our defence was in 5s and 6s during the 1st game against tanzania’s U17 owing to lack of cohesion (since most of them where new) and also saw how our star studded u23 team almost failed to qualify for the u23 afcon as a result of poor bonding. Now their next sample for comparison is amuneke whose team fortuitously (Thanks be to God for that privilege) qualified for afcon in their final match…all thanks to Lesotho for dropping points in their own final match too. He has forgotten that majority of the Tanzanian team are largely based at home and thus usually have as much as 3 weeks of camping before their qualifying matches. Now Tanzania is now so so strong that they can beat the whole of Africa. Amuneke is now the miracle worker that will build a national team without the need for camping.
      Long before the coach announce there will be no more invites till after the AFCON, I said it here. And i’m re-iterating it to the disgust of whoever will be disgusted…there is no nigerian footballer out there who is eligible for the SE today and who is exceptionally more brilliant than the 30 we have now. If there are, we wouldnt need to search youtube to see them. QED…!

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      And since this has become a battle of youtube vidoes….oya post ya own and lets us all watch and judge.
      .
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWSoTWZwpRQ

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      On loan HNK Rijeka Nigerian goalkeeper, David Nwolokor has emerged as a prime target for Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, as he continues his search for more options in goal.

      Nwolokor, who is out on loan to Slovakian side SKF Sered, has been watched several times by scouts of the Franco-German soccer tactician but no decision has been reached yet on a possible call up to national team ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt.

      23-year- old Nwolokor has 10 appearances to his name this season with seven coming in the league and three games in the cup, which means he has made more appearances than any other Nigerian goalkeeper in Europe within his age.

      Rohr is still keen on more options despite the not too bad performance of 20- year-old first choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho who is ahead of Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi who are 11 years older.

      Uzoho’s registration issues at Cypriot side Anorthosis Famagusta has restricted him to just one game for the team he joined in the January transfer window after terminating his loan deal with Spanish second division side Elche where he was supposed to spend the rest of the season ‎on loan from Deportivo La Coruna.
      .
      https://allafrica.com/stories/201903140066.html

  • Dr Drey, you actually make some points that resonate with me.

    Basically, there are intricacies involved in these matters beyond that which is obvious to us fans observing from a safe distance.

    I might like Akpeyi however, I am not overly crazy about all our 3 goalkeepers at the moment.

    That being said, they are no doubt the most experienced goalkeepers we have around at the moment (like you allude to).

    Between the three, we have no less than 6 world cups across age groups to senior tournaments, 2 Olympics, 1 Chan Afcon and very many tournament qualifiers experiences.

    Add to this the fact that all 3 have been working with this coach for no less than 18 months thus they buy into his philosophy and methods.

    All three are consummate professionals of national and continental standards.

    To now throw all of that away in the eve of a major tournament for no just reason for me will be reckless indeed.

    Immediately after the World Cup, Rohr should have started looking for options but he (stubbornly) stuck with these three unconvincing goal-minders.

    But, it is too, too late (in my view) to be talking about options now.

    I am now fully prepared to sink and/or swim Uzoho, Akpeyi and Ezenwa as far as Afcon 2019 is concerned.

    After the tournament (whatever happens) , I pray Rohr’s stubborness doesn’t rear its ugly head: he needs to start giving us options in the goal keeping department and he needs to do this quickly after the Afcon tournament – regardless of how well or otherwise his preferred trio performs.

  • @deo, we can’t rule out opportunities for a new face to break into the team, specifically the goalkeeping dept and the current midfield. I think regardless of their club status, experience or “chemistry” with the core SE team, a level playing ground should still be provided. Sometimes, an individual’s club status or fortunes is not consistent with their talents. A case in point is Onyekuru who started blossoming again after he moved to Turkey. The first is not always the best, cos there may be other remote factors not immediately obvious to observers.

    @Dr. Drey, I know you’re vast with our footballers’ stats, but are you saying for the initial 35-man list, only Uzoho, Akpeyi and Ezenwa should be invited as goalkeepers by the gaffers? Or any other goalkeeping invitees should be simply “training materials”? Should any player go to camp, knowing that his place in the final team list is assured, no matter their current form or the hardwork of new faces?

    My point? Rohr can’t invite just these 3 guys as goalkeepers in his initial Afcon list, otherwise the purpose of camping is defeated. After a tournament, a good goalkeeper will always be snapped up by a good club. So Afcon may be the chance for some players to finally go to a club that befits their talent.

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      @ Kel…my point isnt that only the 3 MUST be invited….far from it. Just like i said earlier and i still maintain, i’m a stinker for competition. My point remains that currently, when you weigh all the pros and cons…it will still end up narrowing down to the 3 we’ve got already, because there’s still none that is either playing at a higher level or exceptionally and extravagantly better than the ones we have now. Is it Maduka that is still cutting his teeth in the German regional ligen (4th division) for Fortuna II or Osigwe (who hasnt played 1st division football ever in his career), or Arthur Okonkwo (arsenal U18s) or any from the NPFL where ezenwa was still no 1 ahead of them all for the homebased set up. Are they the ones now that will have the bravery to face Mane (according to some people)…? Eventually the ‘training materials’ phenomenon will become inevitable. First and foremost the top 3 already have an edge over any other that will be invited now, having been on ground for a while…so there cant be any level playing grounds ab initio. They already know what the coaches want to see in training…they already know the team philosophies way better than any JJC. Ezenwa isn’t a baby goalkeeper in Nigeria. Akpeyi too made his mark at warri wolves before moving to SA….so whc goalie will come to camp and make them have shivers…??? Uzoho likewise had already made his mark in spain before being called up to the SE…we didnt need anyone on CSN to yell his name here or refer us to watch youtube to hear of him. We saw him keep clean sheets in the best league in the world….right before our eyes too, he stepped up to replace akpeyi on his debut and it didnt even look like it was a 19yr old debutant that was facing almighty argentina. Meanwhile….Alampasu had always been the no 3 on the SE goalkeeping list before then. Infact alampasu has always been on the fringes since 2014 CHAN. So its not like the coaches have not had time to monitor these guys in camp before settling for their choice of NO 1. Ive tried to watch Nwolokor’s games in slovakia, at least to see how ‘awesome’ he is claimed to be and the quality of football over there, but i’ve not had that luck to catch any. I go to youtube and I cant seem to find his videos too. So I wonder where all those who are dropping his name have watched him to be able to know he is better than the three. For someone allegedly nicknamed the ‘african buffon’ i cant understand why no one deems it fit to share the wonders of this ‘amazing’ goalkeeper that will sweep away all the guys we have now and never concede goals before, at the afcon or thereafter.
      We might not have the most inform trioka at the moment, but the battle of our goalkeeping department isnt that of who will make the afcon, but that of who will man the posts at afcon. Assemble all you can assemble, but you will be shocked that its this same 3 that will make it to egypt.
      Even at interview or bid evaluation panels, applicants with previous experience of the task and better profiles always have an edge over those with low profiles and experience levels…..unless there’s something more extraordinary than ordinary that they possess, that the others dont have. And at the moment, i do not see status quo changing. The energy that would have been used in trialing goalies should rather go to sharpening the capacities of the ones at hand. Form is temporary…class is permanent. Rufai was AWOL from the SE btw 91 and 93 when he seemed to have a brush with clemens westerhoff back then, in his absence Clemens used Agbonavbare, Agu, Ngoddigha, Segun Oguns and many others. Rufai came back on the eve of tunisia 94 and in just one match he took back his shirt. Same with Ike shorunmu circa 2002….baba needed just one friendly match against ireland to remind the younger ones that the eyes of the aged are not sunken by coincidence.
      Let whoever is gonna be invited be invited…but thrashing those who are there now just because we want to launder others who aren’t even with or better than them isnt the way to go. That was how we trashed our Mali 2002 team, calling dem tired legs, indisciplined and all sorts of names, only to go to the WC with junks (apologies to Pastor Taribo West)

  • Kel, there really isn’t much to add to all that Dr Drey said.

    People wonder why I like Akpeyi. Like Dr Drey quite rightly pointed out: he has made his name in the rugged Nigeria Professional Football league before leaving for South Africa where he plays regularly (the same South Africa that Emmanuel Daniel of Olympic 2016 failed to crack!).

    I repeat, I am not over the moon will all three but these are consummate professional goalkeepers of national and continental standards.

    Even when Uzoho was plucked out of nowhere to usurp the number one position from Akpeyi and Ezenwa, he already had LA liga and junior world cup experiences under his belt.

    Much to my shock, Rohr took this child to the world cup and made him our number one!

    However, whether I like it or not, Uzoho now has that senior world cup experience against Messi and Modric under his belt and no one can take it away from him – and that can only be beneficial for the national team.

    The 3 goalkeepers have their flaws no doubt but I think they are widely underrated by some fans who choose to elevate their weaknesses and totally disregard their strengths and experiences.

    They are highly skillful and professional; you don’t have to like them to admit that.

    • pompei 5 years ago

      Deo, your love of Akpeyi…I’m certain it is his person you refer to, not his goal keeping, especially in recent times. That guy can raise somebody’s blood pressure if care is not taken. Currently, my confidence in Uzoho and Ezenwa is quite high, in spite of their club issues. Between these two, we can expect to have decent, respectable goalkeeping from whoever is selected. Osigwe is a decent keeper, and if he is deemed good enough, his invitation should not be delayed.

    • Pompei 5 years ago

      The Akpeyesque one……..from time to time, he comes up with good performances. Problem is the bad usually outweighs the good, and the bad can be quite calamitous, comically so. Let Osigwe and Alampasu come in, so 5 goalies compete for 3 spots.

  • Gritty 5 years ago

    @Drey you(a fan) are entitled to your own opinion just as others are. My problem with your submission above is that you are already biased and sentimental of the possibility of getting a decent and quality goal keeper (Home & Abroad) who can comfortably man the post for Super eagles at the AFCON ahead of the other 3.
    How did we discover Rufai, Enyeama, Mikel, Messi, Mbappe, Okacha, Kanu et al. if their coaches did not repose such confidence on them to play at major tournaments (Nations or world cup+age grade) at their first outing?
    Mind you, time and chance separate such an ace Nigerian goal keeper who can comfortably bench the 3 we have now at the AFCON.
    My point is, its still very possible to add a player or two to the current 23 who can be very exceptional at the AFCON.
    I respect the Coach’ (G.Rhor) decision in this matter also bcos he is directly at the “receiving & responsibility end” during the AFCON. I also respect the Grace and standard of the three keepers.
    I support the idea of inviting 2 or 3 quality goal keepers to prove their mettle at the AFCON (#Alampasu=gold+golden glove worldwide, and any other(s)).
    All what majority of the fans here are saying to NFF & Mr G.Rhor is “give us a viable, quality & a winning team for the AFCON 2019”
    Cheers!!!
    .

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      Oga sir…..I’m not being biased. I’m just being objective. If you have read my post well you would understand that. While reading your post I was hoping there would be a point down the line where you would be definitive as much as naming just one apart from the 3 who has enough clout and experience that you can bet your savings on to displace any of the 3 going into AFCON. But i was shocked you didnt. I therefore put it to you that if there was/were any, by now we all would have know and seen them.

      All those people u mentioned above had made their mark before being thrown into the deep end. Rufai was already manning the post for stores and even had a good run with the team in the challenge cup. Very young he was then and his invitation to the national team by coach onigbinde at that time didnt raise any eyebrows as many were , in the light of our poor performace at Afcon 82, calling for replacements for our supposedly ‘aging’ goal keepers back then …the likes of Late Best Ogedengbe, and Peter Fregene…..still it took rufai who was universally considered as one of the best of the young lot, years to break into the team. Enyeama had won the FA and league titles with enyimba and even expereinced the CAFCL in 2001/2002 where the team crashed out to Asec Mimosas in the 2nd round. The same Enyeama almost lost his head to critisisms from armchair, keyboard analyst (just the way many are already out for Uzoho especially after his mistimed punch against seychelles) in his early days as a national team goalkeeper despite being fantastic with enyimba. It took Chukwu’s patience to help him remain and stay long enough to fulfil his destiny as the greatest to come out of africa. Okocha was already a part of the cairo 91 all african games team alongside emma amuneke and was already playing bundesliga football with E.frankfurt……I can go on and on. These guys had made their ways to an appreciable level and played some real high level football before they were thrown into the deep end of national team football. Believe me if you haven’t played up to 75% of the level of your competitor, oga…u cant beat him. If person pass u e pass u b that…e nor get medicine.
      While not ruling out the need for more invitees, I really do not see any goalkeeper home or abroad who has got half the amount of clout or experience these 3 already have that will be so massive as to displace them for the no 1 position leading into AFCON. Do you think you wish to see a better, more outstanding goalkeeper more than G.Rohr himself…? its his dialy bread at stake here. If there’s anyone who wishes to have 11 world bests in the team, it the coach. But you also recall, a star studded team without cohesion will be humbled by a team with better chemistry…as least our encounter with libya in the U23 qualifiers should serve us a big lesson going forward. The pressure of keeping the post for the Nigerian national team is in geometric order of magnitudes greater than the pressure of keeping in the german 4th division, swiss 2nd division or the U18 premier league.

      • Simon 5 years ago

        Mr man shut your pussy mouth you think Uzoho is better than Ezenwa or Alampasu answer me NWA Monkey.

  • The 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup is set to commence in less than a month, and qualified countries are currently preparing for the tournament. As for the Flying Eagles of Nigeria, head coach Paul Aigbogun is reportedly searching for more players, especially attack-minded players, who will add more threat to his team’s underwhelming attacking prowess. Having said that, Aigbogun must try all his possible best to lure Chelsea youngster Tariq Uwakwe into his team due to some reasons. Allnigeriasoccer.com takes a look at three reasons why the England-based youngster must be Aigbogun’s prime target before the World Cup in Poland. Uwakwe’s Priceless Experience Only few of the current Flying Eagles players can boast of Uwakwe’s experience. The Chelsea youngster has trained with the Blues first- team squad, and he has equally played in many European youth competitions such as the prestigious Toulon Tournament and UEFA Youth League. His experience will definitely add more class and threat to the Flying Eagles’ attacking capacity. No Need For FIFA’s Approval To Switch With less than a month to the tournament, Aigbogun can only go for Nigeria-eligible players who haven’t played competitive games for another country. This is why Uwakwe is the best player the manager can lure to his team without FIFA clearance because the 19-year-old hasn’t played any competitive game for the Young Lions. He has only played friendly matches for England’s U18, U19 and U20 teams, hence, he can decide to commit his international future to Nigeria without applying for a change of association.

  • Victor 5 years ago

    We need players in the midfield, particularly the defensive midfield. Onazi is injured, mikel agu is not playing in his club. Afcon is longer and is tedious mikel, etebo and ndidi need help. Azubuike Okechukwu can be given a look in.

    • greenturf 5 years ago

      Zubby is in the plans of the gaffer,hopefully should be in the preliminary squad for camping next month.

      • Pompei 5 years ago

        That’s fantastic news. Zubby is needed to provide much needed cover in the DM position. Even if he is not selected to start, with his quality, we can rest assured that we have someone who can step in comfortably when the occasion calls for it. Strong benches win competitions.

        • Ashy Slashy 5 years ago

          I have not read anywhere that Zubby is in the coach’s plans.
          Perhaps people can reference their comments to give it credence.

          • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

            Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has defended his call-ups for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Seychelles plus the friendly with Egypt, saying that he invited the most in-form players after considering the fact the Olympic Eagles were also involved in two crucial U23 AFCONQ vs Libya.

            According to the German, Dream Team VII stars Azubuike Okechukwu and Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze were initially named to the Super Eagles squad for the two games but he had to strike their names off the roster because coach Imama Amapakabo wanted to utilize the duo against Libya.

            ”We believe all the time to call the best players. Because of this special situation of the U23s at the same time, in my first list I had Chukwueze and Azubuike and speaking with the U23s coach Imama, who is also my assistant, we decided to let two players for his team and one of the other players in our scouting list is also in the team for the U23,” Rohr said at Thursday’s press conference.

            ”That’s why, perhaps, some of the players who deserve to be with us are not here but are with the U23s.

            ”We want to qualify for the Olympics of course, we have three very exciting games because the Seychelles game is very important for us to stay first in the group and on Monday second game against Libya for the U23 and the friendly against Egypt, so a lot of work to do.

            ”We have to see what we can do to help the U23 but we have to make sure we win the game on Friday and we can have a good team on Tuesday.”

            Both Azubuike Okechukwu and Chukwueze have debuted for the Super Eagles and went the distance as the Nigeria U23s surprisingly lost 2-0 to Libya on March 20.

            Read…they will not, Watch…they will not….only to use multiple identities to argue blindly and mudsling on the forum. LMAO.

  • Ashy Slashy 5 years ago

    Awww Dr Drey, am I your new prey now?
    After chasing Chima for so long without success you now turn your attention to me.
    I wasn’t even replying to you, if you have noticed, I have kept well away from you.
    But your narcissistic tendencies will never depart from you and you want to engage in a duel that seems to feed to psychotic thirst.

    Back in the University, we noticed that Doctors and professors exhibit traits of losing touch with reality the more the read and research.

    You are a mad man, guaranteed. You are a mad man. Intelligent? yes. Vast in football knowledge? yes. Mad? Beyond the shadow of a doubt.

    You bang on about using multiple identities like Complete Sports Nigeria have appointed you as a police man to enforce the use of multiple identities in this forum.

    By the way, I have not read anywhere where this website bans the use of multiple identities and guess what? It only seem to bother one person, you.

    I don’t need multiple identities to deal with deranged doctors who have lost touch with reality. I can, will and have dealt with you myself, dick!

    Now, for the sake of eminent contributors (whose grasp on reality doesn’t make them stress about multiple identities), I will not engage you.

    It does not benefit me, it does not benefit them and it does not benefit the World of football. The only person it benefits is you because it feeds I to your sick, demented, distorted and deranged sense of gratification.

    For replying to a post that was not meant for you, may your prognosis be degenerative to a state that you will walk naked in the streets for all the World to see.

    I sign out but to all readers out there, next time this lunatic doctor from the slums reply to a post of mine, I will use language that will offend others (as I have done before)

    Don’t come and blame the Ash, I leave now but I say again, whenever this gutless yellow turd hopeless bastard messes with me again, the site will not be big enough for the both of us.

    The bastard calls people Chima’s dog, has he now become Greenturf’s dog as the post he insulted me was a measured response to the former.

    Dick Head.

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      “For replying to a post that was not meant for you, may your prognosis be degenerative to a state that you will walk naked in the streets for all the World to see….”
      I thought you and your master made a declaration that I would die…lolz
      .
      “Don’t come and blame the Ash, I leave now but I say again, whenever this gutless yellow turd hopeless bastard messes with me again, the site will not be big enough for the both of us.”
      .
      I thought you claimed you have banned me from commenting on this forum…? LMAO.
      Hihihihihiihi….seeing u (in any of the ids you use) going mad makes may day…lolz. Clown.

  • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

    Hahahahahaha…..who asked you for a testimony now…? Lolz…or rather to whom are you testifying….? LMAO.
    Alakori Oshi……see as e dey boil like steam locomotive…! LMAO
    Oya come and ban me na….LMAO

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