Peseiro should forget Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho, turn to NPFL for goalkeepers: Ex-Super Eagles player

“Peseiro should forget about Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho because we have better goalkeepers in the NPFL,” he said.

News Agency of Nigeria • October 15, 2023

Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho

Ex-international Taiwo Oloyede has advised the Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro, to turn to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for players to solve the team’s goalkeeping problem.

Oloyede, a former stationary stores captain, advised in an interview while reacting to the performance of the Super Eagles in recent friendly matches.

Super Eagles on Friday drew 2-2 with the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia in a friendly match played in Portugal.

A goalkeeping howler by Super Eagles goalkeeper Francis Uzoho gifted the Falcons their first goal, which many pundits have since termed an unacceptable performance.

Oloyede, who played for the Super Eagles from 1994 to 1996, however, contended that the two goalkeepers in the camp of the Super Eagles were not good enough.

“The winless situation of our national team is worrisome. We keep on re-circulating players that are out of their prime.

“The goalkeeping errors and instability are a bad omen for Nigeria. I don’t know why the coach insisted on calling those goalkeepers. I think he should forget about them.

“Peseiro should forget about Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho because we have better goalkeepers in the NPFL,” he said.

He explained that great goalkeepers were discovered from the Nigerian league in the past, “I don’t know why it’s difficult for Peseiro to retrace his steps.

“Inviting a goalkeeper like Uzoho, who is always on bench in his club, while a 35-year-old is a regular in the same club tells a story that he is not good enough.”

Oloyede, who started his career with IBWA and played for Rangers, BCC Lions of Gboko, Shooting Stars, Sunshine Stars and First Bank of Lagos, claimed that Peseiro had failed to use the friendly matches to get new players.

“Those friendly matches are good opportunities to test new players, and not inviting those that have not performed well before hoping that they would have improved.

“The Super Eagles coach should invite new players or mix the newly invited with the old ones. I am sure we have better players around who can fill in the gap when the regulars are absent.

“If Osimhen is not fit or Iheanacho is not around, we should have a replacement for him. We should be able to build a formidable team from the friendly matches,” he said.

The Super Eagles return to the field in Portugal on Monday for another friendly match against Mozambique.

(NAN)

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