“I almost played for Togo” – Super Eagles goalkeeper

The Enyimba goalie was extremely close to playing for Togo, but he changed his mind in the final minute 

Super Eagles goalkeeper John Noble has revealed that he was close to playing for the Togolese national team, Soccernet.ng reports.

Enyimba goalie Noble is yet to get an official cap for Nigeria, but he has been invited to the national team on multiple occasions. He was also part of coach Augustine Eguavoen's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The 30-year-old shot-stopper has been at Enyimba since 2020, but before that, he made was playing at Togolese club Kara FC.

Noble had a successful stay at Kara, helping them to the league title, and League Cup. The Nigerian goalie also won the best goalkeeper award in Togo.

He eventually joined Enyimba in 2020 and got a Super Eagles call-up. However, Noble has revealed that his exploits earned him a place in the Togolese national team as they tried to talk him into neutralizing to play for the country, but it did not work out eventually.

“I was playing for FC Kara then in the Togolese league,” Noble told Elegbete TV.

“We won the league, the Cup, and I won the Golden Gloves for the season, and I was about to naturalize to Togo. 

“A lot of thoughts were running through my head. There were thoughts that Nigeria had a lot of goalkeepers, and there was no need to go back.

“I remember speaking with Emmanuel Adebayor on the phone and he said I could tow his path because he decided to represent Togo, and things worked out well for him.

“I was confused because I looked at my background; I had a lot of responsibilities, and people were looking up to me. So I had to start something to make sure I had money for myself and my family as well.

“After then, Nigeria was having a game with Togo in a CHAN fixture and I was in the Togolese team. We were preparing to play against Nigeria, and it wasn't easy. 

“I had many thoughts, a lot of people called to ask me if I was sure of what I was doing. However, a day before that game, something happened that made me change my mind.

Noble is currently with Enyimba in the Super 6 tournament going on in Lagos. However, he has been second choice to Olorunleke Ojo for most of the season.