The goalkeeping department remains the most problematic in the Nigerian national team
FC Prishtina chief coach Emmanuel Egbo has advised Jose Peseiro to adopt a new approach to tackling the Super Eagles’ goalkeeping problem, Soccernet.ng reports.
Peseiro has at his disposal in the national team three young goalkeepers in the shape of Cyprus-based Francis Uzoho, Israel-based Adebayo Adeleye, and Udinese star Maduka Okoye.
None of these shot-stoppers has been able to nail down the Super Eagles’ number-one gloves following a string of underwhelming performances.
Since taking charge of the three-time African champions, Peseiro has preferred Uzoho as his first choice, while Adeleye also made his international debut.
Before Peseiro was appointed as head coach, Okoye was Nigeria’s number-one goalkeeper during the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations
However, convinced of the talents of Uzoho, Okoye, and Adeleye, Egbo has frowned at the constant changing of goalkeepers in the national team.
To get the best out of the youngsters, the former El-Masry and Julius Berger goalie has called on Peseiro to back one of the shot-stoppers and stick with his choice through thick and thin.
“There are many good young goalkeepers, and that’s the difficulty facing coaches to pinpoint one goalkeeper or the other,” Egbo told Tribal Football.
“We have seen that in the past year or two, they have used in the national team 3-4 goalkeepers in different matches and in my opinion, it’s not a good thing.
“For me, the goalkeeping department is not like the other departments where you can change players frequently. I think an opportunity should be given to one goalkeeper so he can gain experience playing for the national team.
“Because playing for the national team is different from playing for a club team. When you play for the national team, you have on your shoulders the eyes of the entire population.”
Egbo is the first and only Nigerian coach to win a league title in Europe after he guided KF Tirana to win the Albanian championship in 2020.
The 50-year-old tactician is currently managing Kosovo’s FC Prishtina after he was appointed on October 26th.
This post was last modified on November 7, 2023 11:48 pm
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Jose Peseiro should leave Uzoho and stick to Maduka Okoye as frst-choice goalie because the ex has always fucked up in little shot test, not forgeting the Algerian 's free-kick at semi-final of AFCON 2019 and his indescet manner in between the poles in crucial matches. An absence of no new-comer, let the Coach begin to start the latter as goalie 1, even o avoid carelessness of the ex in set pieces at AFCON '24.
Algerian free kick was another Goalie. That one that plays professional football in South Africa. However, Uzoho has had his own fair share of f**kups between the post. He was beaten by a tame shot from Thomas Partey to send the team crashing out in World Cup qualifiers. He is not even serious. There is one thing to be confident and another thing to be careless. I don't think any of the 3 we have now should make the cut. Maybe Maduka only but he can't be number 1.
Coach Egbo I disagree with your suggestion, Nigeria is blessed with good goalkeepers both home and abroad, To stick to one or two who perpetually lose concentration and concerns cheap goals regularly is a suggestion that should be trashed,
National team is there for those who are ready to give their all hence it's fierce competition and survival of the fittest, If you deny other aspiring keepers opportunity to break into the team, will it not kill their MOLTIVATOON and drive?
Conceed
Not Uzohor that made the free kick mistake is Apai
Daniel Akpayi the goalie