Heartland of Owerri goalkeeper, Ikechukwu Ezenwa has assured football fans and critics that he is fit again and in the best physical condition that will enable him man the post for the Super Eagles in the upcoming international friendly against Mexico.
Speaking against the backdrop of his inclusion in a list of 25 players invited to camp for the game on July 3 in Los Angeles, USA, the former Enyimba of Aba and Katsina United shot-stopper stressed that he has overcome the setback that floored him in March.
He stated as much during Mega Sports on Star 101.5 FM, Lagos and went on to thank the management of Heartland for the role they played in helping him get back on his feet and into peak shape, following the career-wrecking injury he copped during a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match.
The Canada 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup revelation now appears on course to get a starting role with the Eagles in next Saturday’s game versus Mexico, as he is the only one among the complete array of home-based players that will open camp on Monday in Abuja in preparation towards the epic friendly in LA.
Many pundits have also started talking about the possibility of Ezenwa captaining the Super Eagles for the July 3 friendly, considering that he is the longest serving national player invited for the game scheduled to hold in Los Angeles, USA.
Against all expectations, Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr has opted for an all-home-based roster to prosecute the match, mostly due to the fact that the foreign legion are now on holiday and most of the stars resented being called up for the dual games versus Cameroon earlier this month.
Low morale and lack of enthusiasm among the foreign-based players apparently accounted for their 1-0 loss to Cameroon in the first of two games played between both sides in Vienna, Austria, while the second fixture ended in a drab goalless draw, much to the chagrin of Nigerian football fans.
In an apparent bid to avoid similar discontent and anti-climactic outing from the squad, Rohr has opted for the first time ever to name an all-home-based squad to prosecute the upcoming friendly with Mexico.
Subsequently, with Ezenwa being the most regularly called up home-based player, he may end up getting the captain’s band, but that will depend on if Rohr will renew his love for him, having struggled for form in recent time and lost his previously uncontested role as the lone NPFL player often invited to the Eagles’ main squad.
That role fell to Enyimba’s John Noble for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho, such that Ezenwa’s days in the Eagles appeared to be numbered, only for his name to pop up among the lot when the Eagles’ latest roll call emerged on Sunday.
Ezenwa will now have to keep his fingers crossed heading into camp next Monday, after which he will need to upstage Noble in the race to be named first choice in the starting line-up for the match, with another Enyimba revelation and fast-rising winger, Anayo Iwuala also looking good for the skipper’s band.
Ahead of next Saturday’s game, 32-year-old Ezenwa admitted he is happy to be fit again, as he returns to the Eagles’ set-up after his last presence in a 1-1 draw against Brazil on October 13, 2019 in Singapore.
However, back then, he was an unused substitute, as Rohr preferred Cyprus-based Francis Odinaka Uzoho in goal and the then first choice got injured in the 63rd minute, after which he was replaced by Emil Maduka Okoye.
Ezenwa told Mega Sports: “I am happy that I am fit again. It was not easy, but that is one thing about football. Football has some moments like, this but I am grateful to God that I was able to overcome.
“I thank the people at Heartland for how they helped me, and I can now say Ezenwa is back. Ezenwa is back doing what he likes doing best, and I am grateful to Heartland for helping me. Now you can expect the best from me again.”
