In three games as Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has
used two goalkeepers, Carl Ikeme and Daniel Akpeyi.
We lists five shot stoppers who
can step in for the national team when the need arises in the busy 2017
schedule of Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers…
Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers):
Super Eagles first choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has been impressive
for the Nigeria national team since making his debut against Tanzania in
Dar-es Salaam in 2014.
At 30 years of age, Ikeme remains Nigeria’s first choice and his performances for Wolves this season coupled with his form for the Eagles have made it difficult for a return of former skipper Vincent Enyeama, who retired voluntarily.
This season Ikeme has made 25 appearances in the English Football League Championship as at last Sunday. In the Championship, Ikeme has made 53 saves this season, keeping seven clean sheets. He has also conceded 29 goals. In nine international appearances for the Super Eagles, Ikeme has conceded three goals and kept six clean sheets.
Vincent Enyeama (Lille Metropole, France)
Despite insisting he is done with the senior national team, Vincent Enyeama keeps churning out stellar performances for French club Lille Metropole.
Enyeama, 34, has made 55 saves this season, keeping five clean sheets in 24 Ligue 1 appearances. He has conceded 31 goals and received three yellow cards. He has made 135 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille since joining from Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the 2010/11 season.
There have been calls from several quarters for Enyeama, who has 101 senior Nigeria caps, to reverse his 2015 international retirement and give Ikeme stiff competition.
Dele Alampasu (Cesarense, Portugal)
The former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Dele Alampasu has shown promise in training when invited to the senior national team.
With the likes of Carl Ikeme, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa all in their 30s, the Feirense shot stopper on loan at third-tier Portuguese Cesarense is highly regarded by the Super Eagles technical crew as the heir apparent to the ageing goalkeepers in the Super Eagles squad.
Alampasu has only kept one clean sheet in eight games so far this season. Though he is yet to make his debut for the senior national team, the 20-year-old has enough experience to step in when the need arises. He was in the Super Eagles squad for their last game, the World Cup qualifier win over Algeria in Uyo in November.
Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa):
Daniel Akpeyi has had to fill in for Carl Ikeme in the Super Eagles on two occasions when the Wolverhampton Wanderers shot stopper was injured against the Pharaohs of Egypt in the second leg in Alexandria and against Algeria in Uyo.
Despite conceding goals on both encounters, the 30-year-old gave a good account of himself with several breathtaking saves. Akpeyi has featured in 14 of the 15 league games Chippa United have played this season. He has kept two clean sheets this season.
So far this season, Rio 2016 bronze medallist Akpeyi has conceded 12 goals in action for Chippa United who currently occupy the seventh position in the Absa Premiership table with 19 points from 15 games.
Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah, Nigeria):
The Home Eagles first choice Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only home-based goalkeeper always in contention the with the trio of Carl Ikeme, Daniel Akpeyi and Dele Alampasu. With seven appearances in the Nigerian Professional League this season, Ezenwa has conceded seven goals and kept three clean sheets. He was also impressive for FC IfeanyiUbah in their debut game against Egyptian side Al Masry in the CAF Confederation Cup first leg clash in Nnewi on Sunday.
At 30 years of age, Ikeme remains Nigeria’s first choice and his performances for Wolves this season coupled with his form for the Eagles have made it difficult for a return of former skipper Vincent Enyeama, who retired voluntarily.
This season Ikeme has made 25 appearances in the English Football League Championship as at last Sunday. In the Championship, Ikeme has made 53 saves this season, keeping seven clean sheets. He has also conceded 29 goals. In nine international appearances for the Super Eagles, Ikeme has conceded three goals and kept six clean sheets.
Vincent Enyeama (Lille Metropole, France)
Despite insisting he is done with the senior national team, Vincent Enyeama keeps churning out stellar performances for French club Lille Metropole.
Enyeama, 34, has made 55 saves this season, keeping five clean sheets in 24 Ligue 1 appearances. He has conceded 31 goals and received three yellow cards. He has made 135 Ligue 1 appearances for Lille since joining from Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the 2010/11 season.
There have been calls from several quarters for Enyeama, who has 101 senior Nigeria caps, to reverse his 2015 international retirement and give Ikeme stiff competition.
Dele Alampasu (Cesarense, Portugal)
The former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper Dele Alampasu has shown promise in training when invited to the senior national team.
With the likes of Carl Ikeme, Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa all in their 30s, the Feirense shot stopper on loan at third-tier Portuguese Cesarense is highly regarded by the Super Eagles technical crew as the heir apparent to the ageing goalkeepers in the Super Eagles squad.
Alampasu has only kept one clean sheet in eight games so far this season. Though he is yet to make his debut for the senior national team, the 20-year-old has enough experience to step in when the need arises. He was in the Super Eagles squad for their last game, the World Cup qualifier win over Algeria in Uyo in November.
Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa):
Daniel Akpeyi has had to fill in for Carl Ikeme in the Super Eagles on two occasions when the Wolverhampton Wanderers shot stopper was injured against the Pharaohs of Egypt in the second leg in Alexandria and against Algeria in Uyo.
Despite conceding goals on both encounters, the 30-year-old gave a good account of himself with several breathtaking saves. Akpeyi has featured in 14 of the 15 league games Chippa United have played this season. He has kept two clean sheets this season.
So far this season, Rio 2016 bronze medallist Akpeyi has conceded 12 goals in action for Chippa United who currently occupy the seventh position in the Absa Premiership table with 19 points from 15 games.
The Home Eagles first choice Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only home-based goalkeeper always in contention the with the trio of Carl Ikeme, Daniel Akpeyi and Dele Alampasu. With seven appearances in the Nigerian Professional League this season, Ezenwa has conceded seven goals and kept three clean sheets. He was also impressive for FC IfeanyiUbah in their debut game against Egyptian side Al Masry in the CAF Confederation Cup first leg clash in Nnewi on Sunday.
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