Top 10 NPFL Goalkeepers

By Esther Egbe

Looking at the goalkeeping issue in the Super Eagle’s team recently, we look at some top Goalkeepers in NPFL who could still do a decent job for the Eagles if called upon. In no particular order, National Daily look at the top ten goalkeepers doing well this season .

10. Danladi Isah – Kano pillars
The journeyman goalkeeper has played for several clubs in the NPFL including 3sc and Plateau united. He is one of the much-respected goalkeepers in the league with plenty of league experience

9. Itodo Akor – Rangers
A consistent face in the title-winning team last season. However, he has been in and out of the Rangers team this season due to hot competition from Ghanaian goalkeeper, Nana Bonsu.

8. Egbe Ospino- MFM FC
The team of the moment has a good strike force that has been scoring goals but they also have a safe hand in Ospino Egbe who has been In great form so far this season. He has displayed some breath-taking performances so far.

7. Emeka Nwabulu – Wikki touris
His side may be in the relegation battle but Nwabulu’s quality is undisputed having helped the team to a continental place last season.
The young goalkeeper has been nominated for the league bloggers award for the month of March and is one to look out for in the futuStars

6. Olorunleke ojo – Sunshine Stars
Just like Emeka, Ojo is one for the future, the former flying Eagles goalkeeper is the first choice for the Owena Whales. The 22-year-old goalkeeper saved 2 penalties in a match day 15 encounter against Niger tornadoes in Lokoja but it wasn’t enough as stars lost 2-1, he has 5 clean sheets already this season.

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5. Rotimi Sunday – Rivers united.
A former Super eagles goalkeeper with 5 caps, Rotimi is a veteran in the league, having started playing in the Nigeria premier league in 1997 for plateau united.
The 37 year old has had two stints in Isreal for Ironi Rishoni and Hapoel Ashkelon and has turned out for Enyimba, Dolphins, Rivers, Sunshine stars and Elkanemi warriors.

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The former Nigerian youth international won the 2007 fifa u17 world cup with the Golden Eaglets in Korea Republic saving 3 penalties in the final against Spain. He also featured for the U20 team in the 2009 Africa youth championship, AYC in Rwanda and subsequently the WYC in Egypt later that year.

He had a stint in Spain with pontevedra CF between 2009 to 2011 but later returned to the NPFL with 3sc and has played for Warri wolves, Wikki tourist and Nasarawa united. Now 30, he is on the books of Plateau united.

3. Femi Thomas – Kano Pillars

The shots stopper moved from Enyimba to Pillars at the end of last season having won the league with the Aba giants in 2015 with 13 clean sheets.
He also impressed with the team in the 2016 league season thereby winning a spot in the Nigerian team list to the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda. He contends with Danladi Isah for the sole place between the sticks for Pillars

2. Theophilus Afelokhai – Enyimba

You can’t be bad and still be Enyimba’s no 1 goalkeeper. Afelokhai has been contending with Ghanaian international, Fatau Dauda for a the Goalkeeping spot and also keeping 6 Cleen sheets in the process. It is however unfortunate that he hasn’t garnered much international attention as he consistently post consistent performances for the People’s Elephants.

1. Ikechukwu Ezenwa – FC Ifeanyi Ubah
The super eagles second choice goalkeeper and also a former youth international hasn’t had it easy in the team this season only featuring in the CAF Confederations Cup and only periodically in the league.

That doesn’t deminish is quality as a shot stopper, he led the NPFL all star team to a pre season friendly In Spain where he was close to joining Cadiz and generated interests from some LaLiga teams while he is also a regular in the home based Eagles team.