Enyeama’s absence can ruin Eagles, Laloko warns Rohr

Former Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) Technical Director, Kashimawo Laloko has warned that failure to take goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to the Russia 2018 World Cup can ruin Super Eagles’ chances of succeeding at the competition.

Laloko, who is delighted that the Eagles were grouped among countries that have equal standard with Nigeria at the World Cup draws, advised the team’s coaches to recall Enyeama, who, he said, would help to organise the defence line in Russia.

Although he acknowledged that the team’s current goalkeeper are good, he said they are not experienced enough to stand against aggressive and tactically intelligent strikers at the World Cup. The director of Pepsi Football Academy, however, advised the NFF to seek Rohr’s opinion on Enyeama before taking steps to woo him back to the Eagles.

He also revealed that the Eagles target to go beyond the round of 16 would only be achieved through luck. “I don’t see any of the goalkeepers in the team with enough experience to control the Eagles’ defence and also organise it. The goalkeeper is the number one man in the defence line; he needs to be tactically groomed over time to perform well.

“Enyeama has these qualities. People should stop playing politics with Enyeama’s recall to the team. If Rohr really wanted Enyeama, the NFF knows what to do to get him back. “I am happy the present NFF board is ready to spend money for the Eagles to fly in Russia,” he said.

He also advised the Super Eagles’ coaches against dumping most of the players that qualified the team for the World Cup, saying that it would bring division in the team.

“The Eagles’ coaches must focus on organising the team. This is important because they are working with professionals that are exposed in the game. For me, I think luck would be the only thing that can see Eagles beyond round of 16. When it comes to knock out stage in the World Cup, a good team can lose a game through little mistakes. Eagles need to be 100 per cent focused to excel in Russia,” he added.