Dosu calls Ejide Afcon risk
by Humphrey Njoku 15 January 2013, 19:38
Former Nigerian goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph has said two weeks is too long for injured Super Eagles' shot-stopper, Austin Ejide to be useful for the 2013 Afcon in South Africa.
The Israeli-based goalkeeper cupped an hamstring injury in the friendly against Cape Verde and has been given a two-week recovery period by the medics to pass the fitness test for the biennial football showpiece.
Dosu said though Ejide is rated among the best safe hands in the land it will be risky to gamble with him at the Africa Cup of Nations.
"Ejide is one of the best goalkeepers in the land, sadly he is injured and will require two weeks to recover fully and I think it's too long for him to be part of the Afcon.
"Within two weeks we would have played two of our matches so what's the sense in keeping him if there is capable replacement.
"Except Keshi has special reason believing that he will come up I think Daniel Akpeyi should be called up without further delay," said the Atlanta '96 Olympics gold medal winning goalkeeper to supersport.com.
Dosu allayed fear of goalkeeping headache at the Afcon.
"There is no goalkeeping problem in the team at the moment. Vincent Enyeama is the best in Africa, Chigozie Agbim and Akpeyi have made their marks. I'm confident any one given the nod will deliver," he said.
The former Julius Berger man said the Eagles' first game against Burkina Faso will determine how far the team will go at the championship.
"The first game is very important and goes a long way to ascertain how far a team progress in a championship.
"Burkina Faso have always been a difficult side, so our players must put in their best to pick the first win.
"Zambia are champions and well developed. They have team spirit, team play. We have to play carefully against them.
"First game is important if we get it right we may be heading to repeat the 1980 and 1994 feats," he said.
