“I love him, and I watch him” – Super Eagles goalkeeper speaks on comparison with Andre Onana

Super Eagles and Hapoel Jerusalem’s goalkeeper, Adebayo Adeleye, has talked up the comparison of Nigerian fans labelling him Onana.

Young Super Eagles goalkeeper, Adebayo Adeleye has talked up the comparison between himself and his lookalike, Manchester United’s Andre Onana, Soccernet.ng reports.

Popularly called Onana because of his looks, Adeleye made his debut for the Nigerian National team on the 18th of August, 2023, in Nigeria’s 3-2 win over Sierra Leone, and with the resurgence of the sweeper-keeper role in modern football, a trait which Onana and Adeleye possess in abundance, fans have drawn comparison between the two goalkeepers.

Onana, on the other hand, had an outstanding season with Inter Milan, as he was reliable between the sticks when called upon, and helped Inter to a Champions League final spot, losing out to Pep Guardiola’s treble-winning Manchester City, before the twenty-seven-year-old made a switch to Old Trafford this Summer.

In an interview with The Football Fans Tribe, Adeleye talked about the comparison with Onana, and the goalkeepers that influenced him and his playing style while growing up. He jokingly suggested that Andre Onana could possibly be his twin brother.

“I don’t really know, people always say we look alike, I think so. I watch him, I love him, his playing style is a good style, and he’s doing very well.”

Adeleye played up the importance of listening to the coach’s instructions as a goalkeeper and how that had helped him develop into the modern-day complete goalkeeper.

“I’ve always played like this too before the game changed and we just needed to adapt to this system and play what the coach wants and play to instruction, and I like to play this style of football, for me, it helps me a lot.”

The twenty-year-old was quizzed on who he wanted to be like as a goalkeeper, and he picked the former captain of the Super Eagles, Vincent Enyeama.

“I look up to Vincent Enyeama. I’ve always watched him. I like the way he plays, his movement, his confidence, and the way he dives to the ball. It motivates me as well and pushes me to do more and to do my best.”

Nigeria will play against São Tomé and Príncipe on Sunday, and the first-choice goalkeeper spot faces stiff competition, with Hapoel Jerusalem’s Adebayo Adeleye, Omonia’s Francis Uzoho, and Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo.