Izuchukwu OkosiFormer Golden Eaglets head coach, Manu Garba is upbeat that goalkeeping bowlers will not undermine Nigeria’s CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Egypt, Prime Business Africa reports.
The seven-time African champions will be hoping to pick one of Africa’s four slots in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia this May.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe continent will be represented at the tournament by the semifinalists.
Garba, who led the U-17 side to a historic title in the U-17 World Cup in 2013 spoke to the media on the performances of Flying Eagles goalkeeper, Nathaniel Nwosu in the tune-up friendlies played so far by the team.
The U-20 Eagles side coached by Bosso defeated Zambia 4-2 in a friendly game at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
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“We also noticed that,” Garba said in reference to the goalkeeping gaffe of the keeper as noticed in recent matches.
“I think the boy has problems with his grips. On several occasions, some harmless balls came and he could not grip the ball.
“I spoke to (Abiodun) Baruwa, the goalkeeping coach, to work on those mistakes and as a tall goalkeeper too there was a ball they gave to him that he controlled with his leg, he slowed down and the attacker almost won the ball from him.
Garba further added that Nwosu needs to improve on another key aspect of his game.
“He should be very quick too when it comes to distributing the ball with his legs too.
“Above all the greatest mistake from him today is his grips and I think the goalkeeper coach will do a great deal to work on those grips,” Garba stressed.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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