The first choice goalkeeper of top division Swedish side IFK Varnamo Jonathan Ayola Rasheed says he will willingly accept an invitation to be a part of the senior national team of Nigeria, if handed a call up by head coach Jose Peseiro, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Nigeria is facing a crisis in the area of goalkeepers with the current goalkeeper Francis Uzoho error prone. He made another blunder by diverting the ball into his own net in the 2-2 friendly draw against Saudi Arabia on Friday.
That error reignited the calls for a new option in goal for the team with Maduka Okoye, the immediate past first choice also losing his spot due to a costly error made at the last AFCON in the round of 16 game against Tunisia.
We contacted the management team of the 31 year old shot stopper on the possiblity of having him play for Nigeria, and he said it’s a no brainer as he will gladly accept the invitation even though he can play for Sweden as well.
” I don’t think the Super Eagles have bad goalkeepers. They have just been unfortunate which is part of the game. Rasheed is an option if he is called up. He is among the best in Sweden at the moment with six clean sheets”, his representative told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
Born in Sweden to a Nigerian father and a Norwegian mother, Rasheed who is also eligible for Norway was contacted on social media about the option of playing for Super Eagles and he said he hopes so. ” I hope”, he replied when he was asked about playing for Nigeria as early as the next AFCON.
This season he has conceded 19 goals in 18 games but more importantly he has kept six clean sheets for his team who are placed eight in the 11 team league.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
