Enyimba FC goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai hopes to soon become the first choice goalkeeper of the Nigerian senior national team.

The goal minder has been named by Super Eagles' head coach Gernot Rohr in his standby list ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt but in a not too distant future the easy going Enyimba star is looking forward to being handed the responsibility of stopping opposing strikers from scoring against the Eagles.

For now, Afelokhai is bidding his team and remains optimistic that his chances will come.

"I'm so happy to be among the players who have been invited to the national team for the Nations Cup preparations,'' he told allnigeriasoccer.com.

"I'm among the players on the list although on standby, so I'm happy to be recognized  by my country Nigeria.

"It's not easy to be the team's first choice goalkeeper but I know one day I will have the opportunity and play very well for Nigeria. It's is just matter of time," Afelokhai states enthusiastically.

Speaking on the team's chances to lift the AFCON title this summer, the Enyimba goalkeeper was pretty certain that the tournament will not be difficult for the Eagles.

"I don't think there's any country that will stand in Nigeria's way in winning the Nations Cup.

"By God grace Nigeria will win the Nations Cup this time I can feel it," Afelokhai concluded.

The Eagles AFCON training camp opens on June 2 and runs till June 9 before the team's departure for Egypt.