Chigozie Agbim, a former CHAN Eagles goalkeeper and Captain has told Completesports.com that his colleagues still plying their trades on the domestic league are good enough for the senior national team, Super Eagles.
Agbim held sway as Nigeria made her debut in the Championship for African Nations, CHAN, in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2014.
Late Stephen Keshi was in charge then as Nigeria finished in third place, running back home with bronze medal.
Agbim was to make Keshi’s Super Eagles squad for both the 2013 Nation’s Cup win in 2013,FIFA confederation Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil.
He told Complete Sports on Thursday that there are lots of quality goalkeepers and on field players in the local league who are good enough to wear the green-white-green of Nigeria.
“We have good goalkeepers and players here in the home league”, starts the former Rangers shot stopper.
“This is a fact. And they are good enough to be in the Super Eagles. But it all depends on the coach and what he wants.
“Most times they find themselves under pressure to deliver so they begin to look towards abroad for a quick response because they feel there was no time to engage players in camp.
“This should not be so. They should reorder their programs, show interest and confidence in the home based goalkeepers.
“Keshi, may his soul rest in peace, showed interest in home base players, players inclusive and he gave us confidence and we never disappointed.
“In 2013 we helped the Eagles win the Nations Cup in South Africa. We did well in the FIFA confederation Cup in Brazil as well as the World Cup in 2014, also in Brazil.
“Then came the CHAN in Cape Town in South Africa where we participated for the first time and won bronze.
“If this trend, encouraging home base players and goalkeepers continue, it will help our football and the domestic league.” Agbim stressed.
6 Comments
Lol….chei! Are you serious?? Prove yourselves first before u start clamouring for a slot in the eagles and for you guys’ information, the eagles is no longer an all comers affair. U have to be outstanding enough (outstanding enough to displace your colleagues who are foreign based) in order to earn an invite
Loolz. Agbim, I hail.
Let me not say anything.
Is Agbim a goalkeeper? I think if others are talking, Agbim should not o. I am very sure he is one of the reasons Nigerians hold that NPFL players should not be invited to camp. He is more of a bodybuilder trainer than a goalkeeper.
I sincerely don’t want to say anything.
Ahahaaha, aaaaaah. Hmm. This is quite interesting to read o lolz.
Our best goalies ever, Agbim and Akpeyi.
We can see that corruption has bn the main issue of our nation.
We had the better goalies at that of Agbim time but the then gaffer opted for our world class Agbim. Same thing with our current world class coach. Osage, Uzoho, Okoye and Alanpasun but the gaffer prepared Akpeyi over the young ones. Not we don’t have the best in NPFL but no money, no show period.
It this well. God bless Nigeria!!!
Preferred rather. I know Yobo understand that he have a huge work to do in terms of selecting the best home based players for the Chan and Wafu tournaments.
I know we have them out there waiting for the opportunity. God bless Nigeria!!!
Only God knows how many mouths you get, so the great Keshi that u always adored n refers to in your post is also corrupt?