Former Super Eagles’ midfielder, Friday Ekpo has added his voice to the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s best goalkeeper, with a verdict that current number one, Stanley Nwabali needs to discipline himself better.
Sports247 reports that, while hinting that Nwabali may still have to be retained as the Super Eagles’ first choice for now, Ekpo also pointed out that former number one, Maduka Okoye is bouncing back stronger at Udinese of Italy.
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Ekpo also took a closer look at other options available to the Eagles’ coach, Eric Sekou Chelle, and opined that goalkeeping should not be a problem in the Nigerian national team.
He posited, “The goalkeeping area in Nigerian football is not a problem, because I know we have some good quality lads who can do great things. We should just give them all the benefit of doubt to fight for the shirt and see what they can give us from there.”
Ekpo, who twinkled bright in helping Nigeria win bronze at the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal, took a specific look at Okoye and reasoned that the Germany-born shot-stopper has bounced back strong from his recent suspension on betting allegations.
“I watched Maduka Okoye before the problem he had in Italy, and he looked good. Thank God for him, he went over the problem and he’s now back.
“I watched him again recently, and he was fantastic. He did not show any sign of rustiness or panic … which gives me hope for us in the national team. If we have three, four or five of them, it would be good for us,” Ekpo projected.
The former mercurial midfielder, who made top marks at Mogas 90 FC of Gabon during his heyday, continued with memories of how the presence of several safehands back then made the Eagles’ goalkeeping department very competitive.
Ekpo recalled: “I remember the days of Peter Rufai, Alloy Agu, David Ngodigha, Ike Shorunmu, Christian Obi, Wilfred Agbonavbare, and the rest of them.
“They all struggled to see who would be number one. So, you would see a lot of hard work and discipline among them. Whoever was chosen among them would always be proud of himself.”
He then concluded with an emphatic verdict about Nigeria’s current first choice and stressed: “For now, Nwabali is still a good goalkeeper, but he has to be more disciplined on and off the field.
