Nigerian Football
REACTIONS TRAIL AGU’S COMMENTS ON ENYEAMA’S POSSIBLE RECALL
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Super Eagles’ goalkeeper trainers’ opposition to a possible recall of Vincent Enyeama to the World Cup-bound Nigerian squad has drawn varying comments.
Alloy Agu, a former Nigerian international and goalkeeper trainer in the Super Eagles had spoken to Sports Village Square about his opposition to the possible return of Vincent Enyeama to the Nigerian team.
The Nigerian goalkeeper trainer had hinged his opposition to the return of Enyeama on a possible ignition of crisis in the team as Enyeama may want to reclaim the captaincy and the possible pushing aside of those who laboured to see Nigeria pick the World Cup ticket.
But most are inclined to give Agu a knock for his views. Football aficionado, Godwin Dudu-Orumen wants Agu to provide an answer to whether the return of Goalkeeper Rufai brought crisis to the World Cup-bound team of USA ’94.
“And can he beat his chest and say the goalkeepers in camp now are anymore than his own average ability which wasn’t even tested in the World Cup?”, asked Dudu-Orumen.
“I commend the guy (Ikechukwu Ezenwa) who has been between the posts in the last three games or so. His mistakes are very elementary. Hopefully those weaknesses would have corrected in nine months before the World Cup”, remarked Dudu-Orumen.
He wants Alloy Agu to name two other goalkeepers than can bench Enyeama today in a fair contest. “If not, he should stop confusing the equation”.
Another enthusiast , Wisdom Agboola-Oluwa responding to Sports Village Square on facebook remarked: “Alloy Agu should know better than to say such much as he was not to be in the Super Eagles until he came as a replacement for injured David Ngodigah in the 1989 Yaoundé duel of World Cup qualifier. We eventually lost as he too lost a pair of frontal teeth.
Enyeama too would not have been if Coach Onigbinde had not insisted on taking a green horn like Vincent to the 2002 World Cup.
The return of Enyeama to the World Cup bound squad will do the team real good like our need to restart rather than restructure Nigeria, the thoughts of a truly patriotic Nigerian and football fraternity and confraternity member that remember the past.
Another Nigerian journalist of international repute, Osasu Obayiuwana commenting on the issue in a popular Nigerian Whatsapp platform, Nigeria Football Support Platform, remarked that Gernot Rohr is more than competent to make a decision about who makes the team. “If he picks Enyeama, it will be because he is still good enough. If he doesn’t pick him, it will be for the same reason”.
He however wants the self-exiled goalkeeper to do two things before his return. “Find a new club and regain match fitness. And after that, he has to make up his mind if he is ready to join the team on Rohr’s conditions, should the coach follow-up on his initial desire to have him back in the team”, Obayiuwana wrote.
He remarked further that “some of Rohr’s staff are apprehensive that his return could upset the harmony in the team. This has been the first time, for a very long time, where the Super Eagles players seem to share a common sense of purpose.
“As long as Vincent (Enyeama) is ready to accept the role and functions given to him by Rohr, which maintains the harmony the team currently has – and he is able to regain match fitness before May, having him as one of the three World Cup goalkeepers is just plain common sense” remarked Obayiuwana.
Continuing he wrote: “If Essam El-Hadary were a Nigerian, some of you will toss him into the bin. But he will be Egypt’s number one in Russia 2018”.
Even though Coach Gernot Rohr is hoping for speedy recovery of Carl Ikeme, Obayiuwana is of the view that he is highly unlikely to go to the World Cup in a playing capacity.
“He cannot recover from Leukaemia, resume his career and regain match fitness before May. But I hope Nigeria will take him to the tournament still, all-expenses paid.
But not everyone blames Agu for his views. Kola Daniel commenting on Nigeria Football Support Platform wrote: “enough of this Enyeama return… To come and do what in the team? Where was he when the team qualified?”
Another commentator on the platform, Muhammad Mansour Ibrahim wrote: “I don’t think we need Enyeama or any other (new) goalkeeper for now except for injury on the others on the bench.
“Enyeama has played his role over the years, let’s have another person…Ezenwa has shown that he too has come of age. Let’s allow the present guys to do us proud”.
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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