Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme is hopeful to eventually get him a call-up to the Super Eagles.
Posted: 15 January 2013 Time: 14:49
Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme is hopeful that his good form for his club will eventually get him a call-up to the Super Eagles.
Thanks to his good form the 26-year-old has managed to cement his place in the Championship side.
The keeper was first included in the Nigeria provisional squad by former coach Bertie Vogts six-years ago, which also included Aston Villa's Gabby Agbonlahor and West Brom's Osaze Odemwingie. However, Ikeme failed to make the final cut.
Current Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi could give Ikeme a second chance as he needs a permanent successor to keeper Vincent Enyeama, who has been the number one choice for the past 11-years.
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"A call-up by Nigeria is the next step really - that's the next level," Ikeme told The Voice website.
"If the call came I would be interested in it, obviously. The Nigeria thing came up a few years ago and so everyone has associated me with Nigeria, but I've not decided on anything.
"It's just a case of waiting and seeing how my career goes, really. I'll just see where I end up, but if Nigeria did call me, I'd seriously consider it. My dad's side of the family are all from Nigeria.
"It seems like a long way off for me at the minute. Obviously with football, you never know. Things can change in an instant," he added.
Nigeria are drawn in Group C of the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, and play their first match against Burkina Faso on January 21.
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"There are too many critics. I was telling the team that others who are critics who have never touched the football," Zuma said.
"They don't know how it feels to be inside here."
Zuma was speaking after a private meeting with the team in Orlando Stadium, Soweto, ahead of an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
Flanked by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, Zuma said the players had to relax before their matches.
"We have come to tell the national team that they must relax. They must not be tense and they must not listen to all these critics," he said. "They must just play what they know."
He said the whole of South Africa was behind the team.
Zuma said he had asked to touch the AFCON trophy.
"I just wanted to touch it. Touching it means we should be there at the final and we should take it."
The president said South Africa did well in preparing for the tournament, considering it was meant to be held in Libya, and did not have a long time to plan for it.
He said he was satisfied that the team was ready for the tournament.
"If you know soccer, you have got to see whether all departments are working in the field," Zuma said.
"This is so that you have goals that are played (scored) scientifically."
When Zuma took to the field to pose with the team, the Bafana Bafana players greeted him with a rendition of his trademark song, "Awulethu Umshini Wami" [bring me my machine-gun].
He was also presented with a personalised team jersey
Nigeria’s Super Eagles completed their training tour in Portugal by recording a second straight victory in their warm up to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with an impressive 5-0 win over Farense FC.
The coach Stephen Keshi led side last Saturday defeated Sparta Rotterdam 1-0 in another warm up match.
The lead
John Obi Mikel opened score in the 5th minute via penalty to put Nigeria ahead.
In the second half, Ike Uche grabbed a hat trick for Nigeria to ensure the team leave Portugal in a victorious mood, as the confidence of the team continue to improve.
As the game was heading to an end, Emmanuel Emenike, who scored the only goal against Rotterdam got another in the 89th minute.
On parade
Keshi paraded only Sunshine Stars defender Godfrey Oboabona as the Nigeria Premier League player in the starting line-up, and made at least seven changes in the course of the game.
The Super Eagles will Wednesday fly out of Portugal, and head to South Africa.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations will kick off on Saturday, with Nigeria playing its first game on Monday against Burkina Faso.