By Daily Sports Nigeria on November 1, 2023

The Super Eagles have been facing a goalkeeper crisis since the early retirement of Carl Ikeme in 2018. Since then, several goalkeepers have been tested with none possessing the same quality as Ikeme and others before him like Vincent Enyeama, Ike Shorunmu, Peter Rufai and others.

The poor performance came to the fore again when the Eagles played Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in recent friendlies and the erratic display of Francis Uzoho, who was in goal for both games, sparked reactions from the country’s teeming football-crazy fans, who called for the Cyprus-based keeper’s exclusion from the team, following repeated howlers in between the sticks for the national team.

Against the Saudis, Uzoho audaciously palmed a harmless ball into his own net, while against the Mozambicans, the Mambas scored early on after the keeper failed to keep out a weak attempt by Gent Cipriano following a square ball into the Nigerian box.

Number one choice Uzoho has conceded 22 goals in 14 friendly games, keeping only two clean sheets, while overall, the Omonia Nicosia keeper has 12 clean sheets from 32 games, conceding a total of 33 goals.

PUNCH Sports Extra takes a look at potential safe hands home and abroad who can bring sanity to the position.

Tobias Lawal (LASK)

Lawal was born in Austria to a Nigerian father and an Austrian mother but made his intention of playing for Nigeria at senior level known despite featuring for Austria’s U-19 and U-20 teams.

In September 2020, he was called up by Eagles former coach Gernot Rohr for Nigeria for the friendly matches against Algeria and Tunisia but couldn’t feature due to passport issues.

The 23-year-old stands at 1.95m with great agility, command in the air and the ability to use his feet very well.

He has been very impressive for his Austrian Bundelisga side, LASK. He has been ever present this season, competing on the domestic scene and in Europe — where LASK are competing in the Europa League — against big sides like Liverpool and others.

Despite not having the best of protection in defence, Lawal has kept five clean sheets while conceding only seven goals from 11 games.

Having similar feature with Ikeme, many are beginning to ask if the young keeper is the solution to the Eagles goalkeeping crisis.

Noah Atubolu (Freiburg)

Born May 25, 2002 in Freiburg, Germany to a Nigerian father and German mother, Atubolu is one of the exciting young talents in the German Bundesliga this season.

A Freiburg player for close to 13 years, Atubolu made his first-team debut during the 2022/23 campaign. The 6’3” shot stopper has also been amazing this term, since taking full charge of the Freiburg No.1 position.

Despite being his debut season as the numero uno in Freiburg goal, Atubolu’s dazzling displays has seen him in the starting line-up in all previous eight Bundesliga games for the Breisgau Brazilians this term, winning four of them and saving 24 shots in these games.

Overall he’s featured in 12 matches this season, conceding 19 goals and keeping four clean sheets.

Bundesliga.com hints at similarities between the up-and-coming goalie with Germany great Manuel Neuer.

“We’re not saying the Freiburg youngster is the ‘next Manuel Neuer’ — the Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper-revolutionary is arguably the game’s greatest-ever in his position — but there are some similarities,” the website stated.

Atubolu has represented Germany at U-17, U-19 and U-21 and is reportedly keen to play for the Germany senior national team but still remains a valid candidate for the Eagles No.1 spot.

Sebastian Osigwe (FC Lugano)

The 29-year-old goalkeeper currently plays for Swiss club FC Lugano. He was born in Switzerland to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother and has expressed his desire to play for Nigeria.

In 33 matches for Lugano, Osigwe has kept eight clean sheets while not having the best of covers from his defence. In that run of games, he won the Swiss Cup in 2022 as he started the last three final games to lift the trophy.

At a ripe age of 29, Osigwe still has a lot to contribute and his CV puts him a step up from the current crop in the Eagles squad.

Stanley Nwabili (Chippa United)

The 27-year-old goalkeeper currently plays for South African club Chippa United. He has been impressive in the South African Premier Soccer League and could be a viable option for the Super Eagles.

He joined the Gqeberha-based side in October 2022 from Lobi Stars, making only six appearances for the team last season but has already made nine appearances this season with a total of five clean sheets and seven goals conceded.

Nwabili earned his first and only cap for the national team representing the home-based Eagles in an international friendly against Mexico in the United States in 2021.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper currently plays for Remo Stars FC in the NPFL.

The young talent has already earned a full international cap, making his debut for the Super Eagles against Costa Rica in San Jose, USA in 2022.

Despite his age, he demonstrated leadership by captaining the team and making several saves during the 2-0 loss.

Bankole holds the record for the keeper with the highest clean sheets in the last two NPFL seasons. He clinched the best goalkeeper award in the regular NPFL 2022/2023 season.

Bankole made 17 appearances during the course of the season and kept a total of nine shutouts to helo Remo qualify for the Super 6 tournament.

He has kept up the fine form this season with three clean sheets out of four games.

Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance)

Insurance first-choice 23-year-old Obasogie is one of the best domestic choices for the Eagles, in fact, many still wonder why he hasn’t been given a look-in by the national selectors.

Obasogie came second among goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in the NPFL last season with eight clean sheets, with only Bankole having more.

In the CAF Confederation Cup, he was outstanding in all four matches played by the Benin Arsenal in the competition.

The lanky goalkeeper put up a superb performance in the second-leg game against ASO Chlef of Algeria where he saved three penalties in the keenly contested match.

Obasogie was also outstanding in Morocco, where Insurance lost 1-0 to RS Berkane in the second leg of the second round of the competition.

In the NPFL this season, he has only conceded one goal in four games while keeping three clean sheets.

Jonathan Rasheed (IFK Varnamo)

Born in Sweden to a Nigerian father and a Norwegian mother, Rasheed has expressed interest in playing for the Eagles after he replied to a fan on social media writing, “I hope” after he was asked if he would play for Nigeria.

Rasheed started his youth career in Kortedala IF, played junior football for GAIS, before he started his senior career in Qviding FIF.

In 2015 and 2016 he became a first-choice goalkeeper, first for Norwegian second-tier side Follo FK and then for Swedish second-tier side IFK Värnamo. He joined BK Häcken and finally made his debut in a fully professional league in 2018 but an unfortunate injury caused him to miss all of 2019.

In 2022, Rasheed left Häcken to return to Värnamo, who are now in the Swedish topflight.

The 31-year-old has quickly overtaken Pilip Vaitsiakhovich as first-choice goalkeeper in 2023 keeping six clean sheets in 18 games for the Allsvenskan side.

Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham)

Okonkwo is an Arsenal keeper on loan at League Two Wrexham. He has represented England at various youth levels but is eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents.

He spent the 2022/23 season on loan at Crewe Alexandra in the English League Two before joining SK Sturm Graz in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Born September 9 2002, he stands at 6ft5in and is notable for his commanding voice in the area, claiming high crosses with his dominating height.

At Sturm Graz, he established himself as one of the best young goalkeepers in Europe, winning the Austrian cup and helping them to a second place finish in the league with 4 clean sheets in 15 games.

He’s been described as a “modern-goalkeeper” for his composure with the ball at his feet although there’s room for improvement. His strongest attribute is saving penalties- he’s saved 6 out of 15 penalties faced, with the most notable coming against Salzburg in the Austrian cup quarter-final.

Since his arrival at Wrexham, Okonkwo has silenced doubters with outstanding performances. The young keeper has notably kept four clean sheets in eight appearances, showcasing his talent and adaptability on the field.

His contribution has been pivotal for Wrexham and most recently, he kept a clean sheet and provided a secondary assist in their 2-0 victory over Notts County on Saturday at Meadow Lane.

Source Punch Ng

Posted November 1, 2023

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