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  Retired Super Eagles of Nigeria goalkeeper, Ike Shorunmu, has hailed Gernot Rohr’s choice of goalkeepers for Nigeria’s international friendlies against Algeria and Tunisia. Gernot Rohr due to a number of reasons such as injury problems and club inactivity, overlooked Nigeria’s regular shot-stoppers, Daniel Akpeyi, Francis Uzoho, and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, and selected Dele Alampasu, Maduka Okoye, Mathew Yakubu, and Tobias Lawal, for the October 9 encounter against Algeria, and October 13 clash against Tunisia.
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Shorunmu who manned the post for Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup noted that the goalkeepers invited for both matches deserve the chance and believes they will gain more experience if they are regularly invited for national assignments.
‘There is a process and that process must be followed before we can get a lasting solution to the goalkeeping area. The goalkeepers invited must be doing well in their respective clubs, if not the coach would not have invited them, the invitation is part of the process. We must give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s see their performances at the Super Eagles because playing for club sides is different from the national team. Some goalkeepers have lost confidence in the past because of pressure from the fans. By constantly being in the team, they will gather experience and learn from their seniors. They will also gather experience through the countries they visit in the course of being in the national team.’ Ike Shorunmu
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The former Super Eagles goalkeepers’ trainer also stated that calling up the goalkeepers for national team matches on African soil is important as it will afford them the chance to remain stable in goal due to the different playing atmosphere in Europe and Africa. Shorunmu also called for calm and trust in the new hands.
‘When a player plays in Europe, what he experiences is totally different from playing for an African team in Africa. Some of these new players would not see the difference until they play against an African team on African soil. This is how they will gather the needed experience to stabilize them. We just have to trust the goalkeepers on the ground now and be patient with them. If any of them do not live up to expectations I believe such a player will be dropped.’ Shorunmu
Source: Goal Featured Image Source: @NGSuperEagles – Twitter
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This article was first published on 8th October 2020

ugo-chinedu

I am a Lion, I love to hit heights that seem impossible so I can motivate others and prove doubters wrong. For me, impossible is nothing. I'm open to learning and I love to read, travel and meet new faces.

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