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.