Former Nigeria international goalkeeper Emmanuel Babayaro has leaped to the defence of Nigeria Under-23s shot stopper Emmanuel Daniel, describing him as a promising goalkeeper despite conceding four goals against Japan.
Nigeria defeated Japan 5-4 in their first game at the Rio 2016 Olympics, and Daniel who was handed a shock start by coach Samson Siasia ahead of Daniel Akpeyi has been criticised in some quarters for some of the goals Nigeria conceded in the game.
However, Emmanuel Babayaro, a former international goalkeeper has defended the 22 year old Enugu Rangers shotstopper, insisting he was left exposed by his defenders.
” I wonder how we watch football in this country, how can anyone blame Daniel for God sake?. He can be excused for all of the goals Nigeria conceded because his defenders were all over the place” Babayaro said.
” Daniel was left exposed by the shambolic defenders in front of him, I can’t remember them winning any tackle in the box, the Japanese were just strolling their way past our defenders.
” He was at the mercy of the Japanese forwards. Look a goalkepper is as good as his defenders and am sorry to say last night, Daniel played with pretenders acting as defenders in front of him”.
