Eagles, not same without Enyeama –Ladipo

President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr Rauf Ladipo, has regretted the absence of Nigeria’s captain and first choice goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, during Super Eagles’ embarrassing home loss to the Red Devils of Congo Brazzaville in their recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in Calabar as well as the barren draw against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in Cape Town four days later.
Enyeama was said to have sought permission to be absent in order to attend to personal
issues.’ Ladipo said that many people believe that the Lille of France influential shot-stopper’s absence was hugely felt in both games, stressing that his presence would have, particularly, made the difference in the tie against Congo. “With due respect to Austin Ejide, number two is not the same as number one. Everybody knows that Vincent Enyeama is Nigeria’s number one goalkeeper,” the Supporters’ Club boss stressed.
“It’s obvious that the Super Eagles were not the same without Vincent Enyeama from what we saw in the last two matches. In fact, I don’t know why Keshi granted Enyeama permission to be absent from the two matches, especially the match against Congo. His influential presence would have made the difference in that match,” Ladipo insisted. On Nigeria’s chances of qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco to defend the title it won last year in South Africa, Ladipo said:
“We still have a chance to qualify for the Nations Cup in Morocco next year. But as it stands now, the Super Eagles must beat Sudan home and away, defeat South Africa in the return leg here in Nigeria and, at worst, pull a draw against the Red Devils in the return leg in Congo, for us to be able to defend our title in Morocco next year. “What we need is more commitment from the players. They must put patriotism above money.”