Invite Lawal, Fans Tell Peseiro

With the Super Eagles goalkeeping crisis well documented, some fans have called on the Nigeria Football Federation and coach Jose Peseiro to look in the direction of Tobias Lawal and other overseas-based goalkeepers,

This comes after PUNCH Sports Extra’s report on Monday headlined, “Lawal: Can he solve Eagles keepers problem?” The report chronicled the LASK of Austria safe hands’ performance this season on the domestic scene in Austria and the Europa League and if he was the solution to the Eagles problematic goalkeeping department following the exit of Carl Ikeme in 2016.

The 23-year-old 6ft5in keeper was born in Austria to a Nigerian father and Austrian mother and was earlier invited by former Eagles coach Gernot Rohr in 2020 but couldn’t feature following passport issues. He has represented Austria at junior levels.

Francis Uzoho’s poor performances against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in the recently played friendly matches during the international break was the latest in the poor performance of the Nigerian goalkeepers.

Aside from turning a harmless free-kick into his own net against the Green Falcons, the 24-year-old again wobbled while Geny Catamo coolly slotted in from close range to hand the Mambas the lead in Portugal, on Monday.

Uzoho is not the only guilty party as Udinese keeper Maduka Okoye also put up underwhelming performances in the past. In the past, other keepers like Daniel Akpeyi and Ikechukwu Ezenwa in the past but both couldn’t bring the required to the department.

It was in light of this that some football faithful took to social media calling for the invitation of other Nigeria-eligible goalkeepers who have been impressive for their clubs abroad.

With a picture of the young goalkeeper, Bede wrote, “This is Tobias Lawal a Nigerian goalkeeper that plays for Lask in Austria. A good shot-stopper and a sweeper-keeper. Playing currently in the Europa League too.

“@thenff this lad should be leading the line and not some clown posing as a goalkeeper.”

Bravestone Nurudeen added, “In the NIGERIAN goalkeeper issue, I don’t know why Tobias Lawal of LASK is being overlooked. A decent option I must say, playing at a top club as number 1.”

Anthony Kubeyinje asked, “Isn’t it time to look at Tobias Lawal?”

Ikechukwu Nwabuko tweeted, “It’s time to take a look at Tobias Lawal of Lask, he is playing regularly for his club both in the league and the Europa League.”

Virgil Thaddeus believes going to the Africa Cup of Nations with Uzoho is a disaster in the waiting.

He wrote, “Tobias Lawal (LASK Goalie) is still eligible for a Super Eagles call-up. We can’t go to AFCON with Uzoho as No.1.”

Oluwabukunmi added, “This LASK goalkeeper looks good, too, Tobias Lawal. He did well versus Liverpool in the UEL. They should try and have him switch his nationality.”

Wondering why Uzoho remains the Eagles first choice goalkeeper, Dapo Shittu wrote, “Is nobody in the NFF talking to Noah Atubolu playing for Freiburg in Bundesliga or Tobias Lawal of LASK in the Austrian league, both are first choice goalie’s in their respective teams. Uzoho is still making toddler mistakes six years in the Super Eagles? He shouldn’t be called again.”

Dr Taiwo, another frustrated fan, wrote, “I’m tired of this Uzoho nightmare…So sad in a country of over 200 million people, we can’t get a good goalkeeper…It’s high time we call on Noah Atubolu, Tobias Lawal, Arthur Okonkwo and Sebastien Osigwe.

“I wouldn’t bother watching the AFCON if Uzoho or Okoye are being invited again. If NFF can’t invite Noah Atubolu, Tobias Lawal or Arthur Okonkwo, then they should invite Amas Obasogie of Bendel Insurance or Christian Nwoke of Sporting Lagos.”“It’s time for Super Eagles coach to invite LASK first choice keeper Tobias Lawal and Freiburg first choice keeper Noah Atubolu …. They are both Nigerian,” Oluwadada Yomi opined.

PUNCH