Former Nigerian international Peterside Idah has called on the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to bring back former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the national team.
Idah believes that Enyeama, who has previously won the Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles, would be able to help fix the goalkeeping crisis that has been plaguing the team.
Following the friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique, football fans have expressed concerns about the goalkeeping issues in the Super Eagles as they prepare for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire. The poor performance of the Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, in recent matches for Nigeria, has further highlighted the fears of several football stakeholders who have called for urgent attention to the quality of goalkeepers in the national team if the country is to excel at the upcoming Nations Cup in Cote d’Ivoire.
Idah, who was live on Nigeria’s longest-serving independent sports programme “Sportsville” on Channels Television, said that Enyeama should be engaged as the Eagles’ goalkeeper coach for the 2023 AFCON. According to Idah, Enyeama’s presence in the Eagles would motivate the likes of Uzoho to step up their game.
He said, “If we bring in Enyeama as the goalkeeper coach, his wealth of experience as a former AFCON winner and two-time World Cup goalkeeper for Nigeria will significantly help to improve the goalies in camp.”
“The current Eagles goalkeepers crave someone they can look up to and truly learn from, and I believe that Vincent Enyeama will provide that before and during the AFCON tournament.”
Idah further stated that he does not know the current Eagles goalkeeper trainer, which could breed speculations that the individual 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.”
“In as much as Vincent Enyeama remains my preferred choice as the goalie coach, I think Peter Rufai will also do a great job in that capacity if given the opportunity,” he added.
On the chances of Nigeria winning their 4th Africa Cup of Nations title in Cote d’Ivoire, Idah said he’s confident the Eagles will get to the semifinals if the defensive and goalkeeping issues are addressed but wouldn’t guarantee Nigeria winning the tournament.
AFCON 2023: Bring Enyeama back to Eagles, Peterside tells NFF
