Nigerian Football
ROHR’S FEAR OF BACKLASH HOLDS BACK EJIDE’S SUPER EAGLES’ RECALL
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.
Super Eagles’ manager, Gernot Rohr is still having headaches over the last line of his World Cup-bound squad. The goalkeeping department is still a source of worry for him. In the five World Cup qualifying matches he guided Nigeria to, the Franco-German coach made use of three goalkeepers.
Ikechukwu Ezenwa featured lately and most prominently in three of such matches while the duo of Carl Ikeme and South Africa based Daniel Akpeyi had a match each and conceded a goal in each of the encounters.
Ezenwa in three consecutive matches conceded just a penalty kick goal, away from home in the encounter with Cameroon in Douala.
While Ezenwa is just warming himself into Rohr’s heart, the coach admits he needs strong back up for the World Cup and also for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series which resume in March.
His desire to bring back a seemingly unwilling self-retired Vincent Enyeama appears doomed as feelers indicate that the Nigeria Football Federation is not inclined to the goalkeeper’s recall.
Yet, it is almost generally agreed that the Super Eagles do not have a goalkeeper that can grace the esteem stage of the World Cup. The team must have three goalkeepers in its final 23-man squad.
A source in the Super Eagles technical crew informed Sports Village Square that Rohr was thinking of recalling World Cup’s negative record holder, Austin Ejide. But the possible backlash from pundits has held him back.
Austin Ejide has been to three World Cup finals in 2002, 2010 and 2014 without seeing a minute of action.
After almost two years of layoff, he is currently back with an Israeli club, Hapoel Hadera. He last kept the goal for Nigeria in a goalless outing with South Africa in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September 2014.
The inside source told Sports Village Square that Rohr was aware of Ejide’s experience but he was also worried by the goalkeeper’s lack of action which will possibly draw a lot of criticism that may also affect Ejide’s composure.
Independent sources told Sports Village Square that Ejide’s weight and increased size are additional worries. Last January, while featuring in a Joseph Dosu organized novelty match at the Julius Berger ground in Lagos, Ejide told Sports Village Square that his not getting a national call-up was due to his not featuring for any club side since he left Hapoel Be’er Sheva of Israel in 2015.
As at January, he still nursed a possible return to the Super Eagles’ fold if he was able to secure a contract with a club which he has since done.
His contract for the Hapoel Hadera is for three years. Before, Vincent Enyeama, Ejide was the first choice goalkeeper when the 2002 squad was disbanded after the turmoil that afflicted the Super Eagles at the Mali 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ejide debuted for the Super Eagles on June 16, 2001 when he came off the bench as a substitute for Sunday Rotimi in an away 0-2 win for Nigeria against Namibia in an Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifier.
He was looking like a possible permanent holder of the number one shirt having featured in the pre World Cup friendly matches under Coach Adegboye Onigbinde.
However, Vincent Enyeama stamped his authority as a goalkeeper the moment he debuted on May 4, 2002 in a 3-0 defeat of Kenya in a friendly match in Lagos.
But in 2008, Ejide was preferred by Germany’s Coach Berti Vogts ahead of Vincent Enyeama at the Africa Cup of Nations.
But is he ready to bounce back again? In the encounter with him months ago, he told Sports Village Square: “I still wish to keep for the Super Eagles. All goalkeepers must be in top form before getting a national team call up. I am not under a contract with any club for now.
“No one knows what tomorrow or the nearest future will be. As soon as a get signed with any club then I will certainly be battle ready for the Super Eagles gloves. Nigeria is my country and I derive pleasure in staying between the sticks whenever I am called upon.”
Has the time come? The Super Eagles source said while Rohr seemed inclined towards, Ejide, the foul aroma over his inactivity may make the NFF to kick against his invitation.
A total of 30 women coaches have concluded the first of a three-module CAF C-License program in the Federal Capital, Abuja and are expected to commence a two-week internship with different teams in a few days.
Peopled largely by former Nigerian internationals and other serving coaches, the group was taken through a full week of rigorous classroom and practical sessions by a team of coach educators and resource persons, in a baptism of what the next two modules are likely to entail,
NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, told thenff.com that the first module has shown that the women coaches are actually desirous of learning.
“I am very much impressed with their attitude, mannerisms and conduct through the first module. They impressed everyone, and the coach educators also told me they were impressed, and are looking forward to having them back for the second and concluding modules.
“We are grateful for the leadership of the NFF for the support and encouragement for coach-education programmes all the time.”
The participants will return to Abuja for the second module that is scheduled for 12th – 20th August, after which they will go on another two-week internship, 23rd August – 4th September. The third module, which comes with examinations for the participants, will take place 9th – 19th September.
Dr. Terry Babatunde Eguaoje, NFF’s Head of Education, is among the coach educators’ team, which also includes Coaches Isah Ladan Bosso, Wemimo Olanrewaju and Lanrence Ndaks.
Among the 30 participants are former Super Falcons’ stars Precious Dede, Joy Jegede, Esther Michael, Maureen Eke, Otas Ogbonmwan, Vera Okolo, Cecilia Nku, Taiwo Ajobiewe, Gloria Ofoegbu and Amenze Aighewi. There are also Barr. Victoria Nlemigbo and retired FIFA referee Folusho Ajayi.
Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President and a FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has expressed shock at last month’s outburst by Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Osimhen against Finidi George.
“It is very unfortunate”, Amaju Pinnick remarked on an Arise Television programme. The former NFF president said he had put a call to Osimhen who was very remorseful while the telephone conversation lasted.
“I told him he has to apologise, and I am sure he will if he has not yet done so.” Amaju remarked that he could not comprehend what went wrong as Osimhen was the most cool-headed player in the national team.
He went on to remark that Finidi George was not a personality to be disregarded like that. He has won virtually every honour available during his playing days and was a member of the Super Eagles at their peak when Nigeria ranked fifth in the world.
“I believe players should learn to respect their coaches”, said the former NFF boss.
Nigeria’s FIFA Council member, Amaju Pinnick has told the world that he has always been an advocate of foreign coaches for the Super Eagles. He spoke on Arise Television while fielding questions with Reuben Abati, Rufai Oseni and Ayo Mairo-Ese.
His reason for being averse to indigenous coaches stemmed from lack of respect for them by the players.
“Yes, the Nigerian coaches have the requisite knowledge and the technical ability, but modern football is beyond that in managing players.
“Will the national team players respect the coach? The sad thing is that they don’t”, said Amaju Pinnick.
He however revealed that he supported the appointment of Finidi George owing to the circumstances that the NFF found itself after the exit of Jose Peseiro.
The NFF, he revealed, had no money to hire a foreign coach. The body therefore went for the most available option, Finidi to ensure a smooth transition.
“Finidi was part of the coaching crew of Peseiro and it was therefore logical to ask him to continue.
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