Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai has told the senior national team handler Gernot Rohr what it requires to find a permanent soultion to the goalkeeping department of his team.
Rohr is battling to find a number one goaltender among Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi, and Ikechukwu Ezenwa who he has been rotating since the departure of Carl Ikeme due to sickness and Rufai has said the trio requires specialized training to excel in between the goalposts.
Rufai was Nigeria’s undisputed number one for almost 15 years before joining Deportivo La Coruna of Spain Rufai, however, believes a special kind of training can elevate any of these goalkeepers to the next level.
“Nigerian goalkeepers need special nurturing,” Rufai said.
“Ikechukwu Ezenwa is a naturally gifted keeper. Uzoho is equally good when looking at his structure and skills, so also is Akpeyi.
“But beyond this, the goalkeepers need high profile training to be exceptional between the goal post.
“Every job has its tricks, and football is no different. I am working towards bringing out a blueprint on how to groom national team goalkeepers and also the ones at the grassroots so that the federation will work with it,” he said.
Anaedoonline.com reported that Gernot Rohr said he hopes to get more stability in the Super Eagles’ defence as he aims to win his first trophy as coach of Nigeria.
Rohr has extended his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) till 2022 and now demands for improvements in the team.
“I want stability with the goalkeepers and in central defence, I also want the fullbacks to be more offensive.”
The Eagles have suffered a goalkeeping crisis after first choice, Cark Ikeme, was diagnosed with Leukaemia in July 2017. Ikechukwu Ezenwa filled in for him for the remainder of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, before youngster Francis Uzoho manned the post at the tournament proper in Russia.
South Africa-based Daniel Akpeyi was then the country’s No 1 at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt and Uzoho regained top spot before he suffered a major injury in a high-profile friendly against Brazil.
Young Maduka Okoye has since joined the battle for the Super Eagles’ number 1 shirt.
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