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Vincent
Enyeama: the safest hands in Nigerian soccer? (Photo: AFP)
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Nigeria goalkeeper
Vincent Enyeama has pulled out of Saturday's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tie
against Tanzania following the death of his mother. "He is completely
devastated and coach Sunday Oliseh has excused him on compassionate
grounds," a source close to the family told BBC Sport. Enyeama
was due to fly to Abuja on Monday but cancelled the trip.
PREMIUM
TIMES reports that Super Eagles Coach Sunday Oliseh has confessed that he is
now in a “tight corner” ahead of his maiden assignment in the Africa Cup of
Nations qualifiers following the late withdrawal by captain of the national
team, Vincent Enyeama.
While
Enyeama is said to have withdrawn from the upcoming national team engagements
against Tanzania and Niger due to pressing personal family reasons, many feel
the decision of the Lille shot stopper to opt out might not be unconnected with
the last row he had with the Nigeria Football Federation.
The
NFF had openly castigated Enyeama for expressing concerns over the choice of
Kaduna for the game against Chad.
“The
late withdrawal has put me in a tight corner,” Oliseh told journalists at a
press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. “He asked to be withdrawn from the team.
And the reason for that I don’t know, I think it’s best you ask the player.”
With
Enyeama out of the picture, national team handlers are already making back up
plans and that will most likely hand Wolverhampton FC of England goalkeeper
Carl Ikeme an opportunity to make his Eagles debut in Dar es Salaam on
Saturday.
The
27-year-old is relishing the opportunity and has equally promised to give his
best if finally he is considered as the direct replacement for Enyeama in goal.
“I
will just try and do what I do in my club,” Ikeme assured.
“I
will not be under pressure but I will give my best. I am not going to try and
be Vincent (Enyeama), but I will just try and play my own game and give my
best.”
The
Super Eagles of Nigeria and its coaching crew will on Thursday afternoon fly
out of Abuja to Dar es Salaam for Saturday’s 2017 AFCON qualifiers against the
Taifa Stars of Tanzania.
According
to nff.com, the team is expected to arrive at the Julius Nyerere International
Airport, Dar es Salaam at 10pm (8pm Nigerian time) of the same day.
The Super Eagles delegation
is expected to be made up of 23 players, technical officials, some members of
NFF Executive Committee and management, NFF Staff, some representatives of the
media, and members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club.
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