Lille Metropole of France goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama has received yet another blow to any thought he might have of returning to the Super Eagles for this year’s World Cup, as Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick has rebutted any attempt to grant the shots-topper a recall.
Pinnick declared emphatically that he will not back any call for Enyeama to receive a recall to the Eagles from the team’s gaffer, Gernot Rohr, as he will not interfere in the coach’s plans for the World Cup.
Rohr has kept faith with Francis Uzoho, Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Daniel Akpeyi, who were all invited for pre-World Cup fixtures against Poland on March 23 in Wroclaw and Serbia in London four days later.
However, many pundits believe the trio lack the required experience of World Cup action and continue calling on out-of-favour Lille shot-stopper, Enyeama to step out of international retirement to help Nigeria at the World Cup.
As the Eagles get set to make their sixth appearance in the global football showpiece, observers believe the three-time African champions have a goalkeeping crisis, after their choice, Carl Onuoha Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukaemia last year.
In response, Rohr has been mulling over moves to lure the 2003 CAF Champions League winner in a return to the national team, as pressure continues to mount on the gaffer to go to Russia with an experienced keeper.
However, Pinnick pointed out that the 35-year-old Enyeam, who represented Nigeria at the 2002, 2010 and 2014 editions of the World Cup, has been limited to turning out for Lille’s second team.
Pinnick, though, waved off a verdict on the matter, as he conceded that Rohr would decide if he wants Enyeama, who has yet to feature for Les Dogues since he returned from a knee injury five months ago.
