'Goalkeepers deserve separate awards'

Forum 9 years ago

'Goalkeepers deserve separate awards'

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Joseph Dosu has advised Africa’s football governing body to have another award for goalkeepers and defenders in their annual award ceremony to recognize their efforts on the field of play.

Vincent Enyeama became the first African goalkeeper to make the top three of the Caf African Footballer of the Year shortlist since it began in 1992 but finished third behind winner Yaya Toure of Cote d’Ivoire and Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

"The award has always been won by the midfielders and strikers because they are the ones that really get the goals, while the goalkeepers and defenders are just there to defend the goals,” Dosu toldGoal.

"It’s just unfortunate that it has always been like that. If you look at the [Ballon d'Or], we have seen a defender win it but in Africa, it has always been difficult.
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"I think it is high time Caf differentiated goalkeepers from other player, because I feel if they have separate awards from the African Player of the Year, that is, African Goalkeeper of the Year that would be much better.
"But if that is not done, it would be very difficult having a goalkeeper or even the defenders winning the award,” he continued.
"Enyeama for instance did very well last year, but it was difficult for him to be named as Africa’s best because of his position, and, maybe due to the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.”
Rasheed Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba and Kanu Nwankwo all won the award in the 1990s but no Nigerian has since won it.
Dosu is optimistic that a Nigerian would win the award soon because of their nominations in recent times.
"Last year, Mikel Obi made the top three while Enyeama made the final list for this year’s edition, that means in a few years to come, we will produce a winner.
"Getting our players nominated shows that our players are doing very well, so all they need to do is work harder and ensure that the Super Eagles qualify for major tournaments and with that, our players will be remembered,” he concluded.