New Eagles hero Ikeme was nervous before debut

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme

New Super Eagles goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, has been hailed for his

amazing displays against Tanzania in a 2017 AFCON qualifier. But

the big keeper had to overcome some nervy moments to produce a

world-class performance on his Nigeria debut, reports ’TANA

AIYEJINA

Destiny they say cannot be denied. This saying best describes

the story of Carl Ikeme’s sudden rise to prominence in Nigerian

football.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper first considered his

invitation to the Super Eagles for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations

qualifier against Tanzania on September 5 as a joke.

Of course at 29, which footballer wouldn’t? But for a goalkeeper,

he still has a handful of years left in the game. New Eagles

coach Sunday Oliseh, on being handed the job, ruled out players

in second tier leagues from his programme, which meant a

player like Ikeme, who plays in the English Championship, would

have been barred from representing Nigeria.

But a word with the Nigeria gaffer assured him that his invitation

was for real. How Oliseh reneged on his pledge and called up

Ikeme for the game against the Taifa Stars is now history. The

big man from England then joined his new teammates in Abuja,

but still, the option of playing any role on match day was limited,

with Vincent Enyeama invited for the AFCON qualifier.

Enyeama has been Nigeria’s first choice since he first manned

the posts against England at the 2002 World Cup. Ever since, he

has virtually confined the number one jersey to himself with the

likes of Austin Ejide, Dele Aiyenugba, Chigozie Agbim and Daniel

Akpeyi mostly having to look on from the bench in the last 13

years.

But fate would play a big factor in Ikeme becoming the newest

star of Nigerian football. Enyeama lost his mother on the eve of

the game and the coach had to select between Ikeme,

Ikechukwu Ezenwa and Femi Thomas, who replaced Enyeama.

And the onus fell on Ikeme to take over Enyeama’s place. It was

decision time and Ikeme knew it was going to be a tough task

deputising for Enyeama, unarguably Africa’s best keeper in

recent years.

But the keeper 6ft 3in keeper went on to become Nigeria’s man

of the match against the East Africans in Dar es Salaam.

Indeed, he was the reason the Eagles managed a 0-0 draw

against the less-fancied hosts.

“I don’t like to single out players from the team but I have to

admit that Carl Ikeme had a great game for us,” beamed Oliseh

after the Tanzania encounter.

But not many knew that Ikeme, whose father is from Onitsha,

had some nervy moments before his international debut.

“I’m obviously excited to get the call-up (to the Eagles); it means

a lot to my family. It’s a great honour to be called up and be

involved with the squad. I was a bit nervous before the game. All

my teammates helped me with the coaching staff. So, I went in

straightaway,” Ikeme said in an interview with thenff.com.

“It’s been an enjoyable experience so far. Everybody made me

feel welcome, fans of the Super Eagles made me feel

comfortable, my teammates made me feel at home and I see it

as an honour to play for the Super Eagles.”

After also keeping a blank sheet before being replaced the in the

80th minute by Ikechukwu Ezenwa in Tuesday’s friendly against

Niger, Ikeme is hopeful of playing big roles for both country and

club.

He said, “For the Super Eagles, I hope to be playing at the Africa

Cup of Nations and possibly at the World Cup. I just have to take

it one step at a time and concentrate on the next game. That’s

one of my long-term ambitions.

“With my club, it’s probably to try and get promotion at the end

of the season.”

Nigerian fans are among the most vociferous and entertaining

at match venues worldwide. It’s something that caught Ikeme’s

fancy after just two games with the national side.

“The fans in Nigeria are fanatical, it’s similar to England.

Football is life for a lot of people and I’m grateful to be involved

and try to bring joy to people’s lives. But the big difference is

that there is a lot of singing and dancing (by Nigerian fans),

which is very colourful and great to see.”

Ikeme was born in Sutton Coldfield, in the West Midlands, to a

Nigerian father, and has been at Wolves since he was 15. He’s

had loan deals with English sides Accrington Stanley, Stockport

County, Charlton Athletic, Sheffield United, Queens Park

Rangers, Leicester City, Middlesbrough and Doncaster Rovers

during his time there.

But he still feels Nigerian, despite being born in England; and he

is not one to forget his roots. He has even found out time to

visit his family in Onitsha, before he was called up last month.

“I come from Onitsha and I’ve been home three times so far.

Last time I went (to Onitsha) was a few years ago. I still have a

lot of my uncles and aunts, who live there. So, it’s always good

to catch up. Unfortunately I’ve not had time since I have been

on this trip to see them. Hopefully I will see them in the

summer,” he added.

He says he has adapted perfectly to the Nigerian environment

and the food. He would probably not beat any other Nigerian guy

to a bowl of Akpu and Ofe Owerri soup but if it’s a chicken or Isi

Ewu (goat leg) competition, be sure he would give you a tough

fight.

“Everybody keeps asking me about the food. I’ve loved the food

since I was here. I like chicken and goat meat. I’ve been eating

it since I was growing up and it’s perfect,” Ikeme said.

“The weather can be tough if it’s shiny; it’s different from

England, where it is cold most of the time. The summer lasted

for about three weeks in England but here, it’s different but I

don’t mind.”

His roommate in the Eagles is centre-back William Troost-

Ekong, who also has dual nationality. The injured Mainz right-

back Leon Balogun equally has a Nigerian father and a German

mother. Maybe performances of the trio could convince several

other players of Nigerian descent in several parts of the world to

consider playing for the Eagles and help revive the dwindling

fortunes of the national team.

“William spent some time in England as well. So, it’s been good

to be in the same room and know a bit more of each other. He is

so simple and we have a relationship off the pitch as well.”

Nigeria has never been known to lack in the goalkeeping

section. Right from the era of Carl O’Dwyer, Sam Ibiam, Amusa

Adisa, Eyo Essien, Inuwa Lawal Rigogo, Joe Erico, Emmanuel

Okala, Patrick Okala, Best Ogedegbe, Peter Fregene, Peter Rufai,

David Ngodigha, Wilfred Agbonavbare, Ike Shorunmu, Dosu

Joesph and Enyeama.

Ikeme has come to continue that rich tradition.

Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital

content on this website, may not be reproduced, published,

broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior

express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com