By Rasheed Adewuyi, New York
Former Nigeria international and current TS Galaxy FC goalkeeper trainer, Greg Etafia, has added his voice to the growing calls for increased competition in the Super Eagles’ goalkeeping department at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Speaking on South Africa’s TSHEDZA Sports programme, Etafia stressed the importance of having not just a clear first-choice goalkeeper but also strong alternatives to ensure depth, healthy rivalry, and consistent performance throughout the tournament.
“As a coach, you’ll have your first-choice goalkeeper, but you need back-up keepers who are going to put your first choice on his toes at all times,” he stated.
Drawing from his own experience with the national team, Etafia pointed out that the intense internal competition helped legendary goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama maintain top form.
“Vincent Enyeama didn’t give us the chance to displace him despite the opposition from other goalkeepers,” he recalled. “We used to joke and tell him not to come for some games because he was on another level.”
Etafia also expressed concern over how the Super Eagles have finished all three of their group stage matches, urging the team to correct visible lapses before their Round of 16 clash on Saturday.
This comes as increasing pressure mounts on head coach Eric Chelle to reevaluate the goalkeeping setup, with fans and pundits questioning the consistency and composure of current first-choice Stanley Nwabali. Many are calling for a shake-up in the department to boost Nigeria’s chances in the knockout stages.