Austin Ejide Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Are you still wondering why former Enyimba International Football Club goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, lost his Super Eagles shirt to Austin Ejide? Could it be a result of a lingering injury? Now, listen to new Eagles media Officer Peterside Idah, who says the Israeli-based Enyeama may have played his last games for Nigeria as long as the German coach, Berti Vogts, occupies the driver’s seat in the national team.

France-based Ejide has arrive for good and nothing can change Vogts’ mind about him.
"Ejide has won Vogts’ heart," Idah told Daily Sunsport after arrival from Niamay where the Eagles beat Niger Republic 3–1. "Vogts has a soft spot for Ejide and he believes that he’s the best goalkeeper at present.

Nothing may change this as long as Vogts remains the manager. " He added: "Ejide ranks high and above Enyeama and Dele Aiyenugba. Every coach has his determinants for all his players and in the case of Ejide, Vogts’ mind is made up as only him can explain the choice. As the coach in charge of the team, we cannot question his judgement. What he explained to me is that Ejide has a great deal of commanding presence on the field of play, hence his choice."

However, after a not too impressive battle that has finally landed the Super Eagles in Ghana for the 2008 Africa Nations Cup, the battle line seems to have been drawn with the other 15 teams coming for honour in Ghana.
The spirit inside the chartered aircraft on the way back to Abuja, according to Idah, was electrifying. The players are already looking beyond the last match in September against hapless Lesotho. The players appeared to be fed up with winning silver or bronze at the Nations Cup. And with one voice, they want nothing but the trophy in Ghana, in spite of hot-and-stiff opposition from hosts Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon.

"The only word on the lips of the players is nothing short of gold, as they are tired of the bronze medals Nigeria has won in the last three editions held in Mali in 2002, Tunisia in 2004 and Egypt in 2006," Idah revealed.
"The players have been worried with their performance lately but with the win over Niger, they are set for the Nations Cup in Ghana. Personally, I believe that Nigeria has had its fair share of bronze medals, and there would be nothing new for us if we win bronze again."

The players incidentally are thinking the same way and do not want another bronze medal in their kitty. The team captain, Nwankwo Kanu, on behalf of the players, said the era of winning bronze was over as there would be nothing new if the team wins another bronze medal.
In his words, the team would give its all to ensure that they win gold. "There’s a new liaison in between the team and the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and that liaison, which sees me as the go-between, has made it easy for the players to concentrate on their game rather than fighting for their entitlements.

"I would continue to do my best to bridge the gap and create a better relationship that would see the players excelling at their optimum."
Idah further hinted that Nigerian players have learnt to see the other big countries as teams they should respect, but has also learnt that there was no need to look down on other teams seen as minors in African football.
Speaking on the coach Berti Vogts, Idah maintained that the German is a gentleman who puts his foot down and says what he wants. He expects that working with him would be beneficial to the country.