AFCON qualifier: Mixed views trail Tanimu’s invitation

Football enthusiasms have expressed divergent views on the invitation extended to Super Eagles defender, Benjamin Tanimu, for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Libya.

Some of the enthusiasts spoke in separate interviews with The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)on Thursday in Lagos.

One of the enthusiasts,Monday Iremi, said that the interim Super Eagles coach, Austin Eguavoen, ,should not have called up the defender for the qualifiers game .

He said the defender was not a starter in his club ,Crawley town, in the English Third Division.

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“I believe that the call-up should have been given to any of the home- based players that were performing well in our local league.

“The coach should have selected who ever can get the job done or his trusted players,” he said.

Another soccer fan , Azuka Izu, said it was wrong to criticise the invitation of the player ,saying the coach should be allowed to choose any player he thinks can win the match for him

“Let us all just expect a positive result from the gaffer.Taminu is a good player too and I’m very sure he will give his best.

“The team needs more dedicated, skillful and determined players to win the qualifier against Libya,” he said

Also, Iroje Ahanmisi, another soccer fan, said it was unfortunate that the coach did not choose good defenders in the local league over Tanimu for the match .

” In the future I will like our coach to also extend a call up to our local players.

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“This will help them to develop and also make them feel proud to represent their motherland,” he said.

Ahanmisi urged the team to do their best to win all the remaining qualifier matches, to be at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)

NAN reports that Tanimu recently moved from Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars to his present club, Crawley Town FC.