As the search for young goalkeepers to help the senior national team of Nigeria in the future intensifies, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has taken the search abroad.
A dearth of young goalkeepers in the local scene has made it imperative for the NFF to switch their attention to some young Nigerian goalkeepers doing well for the youth teams of English Premier League sides.
Top of the list is 19 years old Joshua Oluwayemi of Tottenham Hotspur who only recently made the step up to the U23 of the team. Eligible for Nigeria and England he is yet to be capped by both nations at any level.
Last season he kept five games for the U23 in the Premier League 2. Former Nigeria U20 coach Paul Aigbogun met with him just before the lockdown to sound out Nigeria’s Interest in his services.
West Ham Daniel Jinadu has already tasted international football with Nigeria at U17 level and he has been tipped to form the base of the next U20 team. He was recently handed fresh terms at West Ham.
Arthur Okonkwo of Arsenal was a top target for former coach of the Nigeria U23 Imama Amapakabo but the injury which kept him out for 18 months prevented him from calling him up to the team. He is now back in full training with Arsenal.
16 year old Chelsea goalkeeper Prince Adegoke narrowly missed out on a squad in the 2019 Nigeria U17 team as he wasn’t released by his team. Another who has been marked for extensive scouting after inking a fresh deal at Chelsea .
Adegoke’s fellow youth team goalkeeper at Chelsea Kelechi Chibueze has kept goal for England at U15 and U16 level. That said he was keen on representing Nigeria at U17 level but got stopped by issues that has to do with his academics.
At Chelsea his scholarship deal will metamorphose into a professional deal when he turns 17 in November. He is also a target for Nigeria in the future.
Michael James