Hurdles against Enyeama’s recall to Eagles

The clamour for the recall of Vincent Enyeama to the Super Eagles is gathering storm as many fans are asking questions on the rationale behind this. Frankly, the million-dollar question remains: do we really need Enyeama in the current Super Eagles’ fold? It could be recalled that following his bust-up with former Super Eagles gaffer, Sunday Oliseh, in 2015, the legendary goalkeeper called it a day with the team after 13 years of outstanding or meritorious service.
His exit generated mixed reactions. But we moved on following the emergence of Carl Ikeme.
With Carl currently battling with cancer and Ikechukwu Ezenwa the preferred Number One, there are serious calls from close quarters to have Enyeama convinced to come out of retirement.
Enyeama was recently recalled to the Lille Metropole first team following his recovery from injury which had ruled him out of action for some months.
There is nothing denying the fact that Enyeama remains, arguably, the best goalkeeper we have ever produced in Nigeria.
However, there are five demerits behind his likely recall to the Super Eagles’ fold.
First, Enyeama got into the team in 2002 and never looked back since then. We have good goalkeepers in the mould of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi, Dele Ajiboye, Dele Alampasu, Leke Ojo, Emmanuel Daniel and Francis Uzoho, but thier feelings that his recall might be a distraction and cause disaffection in the dressing room of the Eagles. This is something we don’t need in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Also, before Vinny’s exit, he was the skipper and General of the Super Eagles. Will the technical crew led by Gernot Rohr force John Obi Mikel to relinquish the band to him?
Another issue has to do with current form. Is Enyeama still like before? How agile and sharp is he right now? Injury is a monster and it slows down the progress of a player.
Rolling back on memory lane, Nigerians saw the way Peter Rufai turned out to be a flop at France 1998. Can’t we just allow a legend be on his own and give others the chance to shine?
My next piece will examine why Vinny’s likely recall will help the Super Eagles at the Mundial.