Former Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama is ready to return to the national team, Coach Gernot Rohr announced on Wednesday in Uyo.
Rohr made the announcement at a pre-match news conference to mark the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.
The match, billed for Sept.1, is to be played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital.
Rohr said that he had spoken with Enyeama and that the goalkeeper was ready to come back to the team but was not currently fit.
“The past is the past but now he is injured. He has to win the fight against injury,” said Rohr.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Enyeama had announced his retirement from the national team in 2015, following a disagreement with the then Coach, Sunday Oliseh.
Rohr said that he had a good team to face the Lions but that his challenge was with the goalkeeper position.
He said that two of his goalkeepers were injured, explaining however, that he would start the match with Ikechukwu Ezenwa at the goal.
“The list of players makes the difference, not so young, more of experienced players. We already have six points. All players are in high spirit.
“We know that we have a good team, we are ready to make the difference. We have all the confidence to beat the Indomitable Lions here in Uyo.”
He said that the players would be a bit aggressive in their tackling, unlike the last AFCON qualifiers match with Bafana Bafana of South Africa played in Uyo.
The coach pleaded with fans to support the Super Eagles to win the first leg of the match, noting that a win would spur the Eagles to do better in the return leg in Cameroon.
Answering questions from reporters, the Eagles Captain, John Mikel Obi, said the team was in Uyo to play and win the match.
“We are ready; the team is a mixture of young and experienced players.
“I am here to make sure we qualify for the World Cup. Everybody dreams to go to the World Cup.
“We are playing at home, we are fit. We have what it takes to win the match.”
He said that the team had been working hard and was confident to defeat Lions.