The work has started for Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, Nigeria has been drawn alongside Argentina, Croatia and Iceland, as he looks towards having the best side to represent the Super Eagles at the World Cup. One area that has been a major concern in Gernot Rohr’s is the goalkeeping area of the team.
Two players recently popped unto the scene and they could be options for the goalkeeping area of the national team. They are Sebastian Osigwe, who plays for SC Kriens in the third division league of Switzerland, and Mmaduka Okoye, who donnes the shirt of Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany.
Sebastian 23, was previously with the Nigerian u-20 side back in 2013, which had John Obuh as its head coach. He played in a friendly game but didnt make the final squad to the u-20 World Cup in Turkey on issues bothering on having not participated in the qualifying rounds.
Talking about the present goalkeepers in the national team, he says every goalkeeper has his own style of keeping but as they are national players they must be good or else they won’t find themselves in the national team.
His club SC Kriens currently top their league in Switzerland and he was in between the sticks for the team in their 17 games this season keeping 6 clean sheets in the process. On his thoughts on playing for Nigeria he said: “I know I have the quality to play for Nigeria.”
He also went further to say his time with Alloy Agu, the present goalkeeper coach of the Super Eagles, helped in developing his game.
Concerning the future of Vincent Enyeama with the national team he talked about Vincent Enyeama being his idol and that he watched him in Nigeria’s last 2 World Cup appearances. He went on to say that he doesn’t know Vincent Enyeama’s condition at the moment and it will be left for the coaching crew to decide who will be in goal for the Eagles in Russia.
His father Vitalis Osigwe, who played over 4 years with Rangers International of Enugu will be the happiest if his son dons the green and white shirt of Nigeria.
Mmaduka Okoye, on the other hand, is 18 years of age and highly rated in Germany. Okoye is yet to be involved in a match for the first team of Fortuna Dusseldorf that participate in the second division in Germany. When asked if he has what it takes to be in the Super Eagles squad he said the individual goalkeeping training in Germany is on a high level and this makes him confident to be the first choice goalkeeper of the Super Eagles.
Recently, a picture of Mmaduka and the newly appointed scout of the Super Eagles Victor Agali was on social media platforms. When asked about an invitation to the national team he said its always an honor to get a call up from the Super Eagles and that’s why you shouldn’t think about it too much and take the opportunity.
On competing with the present goalkeepers in the national team, he said I have respect for every player especially for goalkeepers and is excited to challenge the goalkeepers in the squad.
He went further by talking about Nigeria’s chances at the World Cup by saying, I think it is important and definitely possible for the Super Eagles to make it through the group stage considering the talent, energy and the fact that Nigeria has the youngest team competing and the super eagles can aim even higher and achieve even more.
Gernot Rohr, the head coach of the Super Eagles, has the final say in the final selection of players that will represent Nigeria in Russia, and either of Sebastian or Mmaduka could be the final brick to the Oyinbo wall. Football definitely won’t be ending at the World Cup in Russia, Nigeria still has African Nations cup qualifiers to persecute and having these two young talents in the national team will increase the number of goalkeepers at the disposal for Gernot Rohr to select from.
Writer: Pascal Mbey
