'I have a Nigerian passport' - Tri-national goalkeeper keen to represent Super Eagles at AFCON

Tri-national goalkeeper Jonathan Rasheed has refused to comment on whether he is the solution to Super Eagles' goalkeeping woes and has also expressed that he would be delighted to represent Nigeria at AFCON.

The Värnamo gloveman is being tipped as one of the potential players to help solve the goalkeeping crisis plaguing the three-time African champions.

The lack of a reliable goaltender cost Nigeria a place in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and was also responsible for their ouster at the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.

In an interview with EaglesTracker, Rasheed failed to comment on whether he is the Messiah-shot stopper the Super Eagles have been looking for.

"That's not for me to say. I would be honoured if I got the possibility to say that I would be a solution that I couldn't say. But if I got the chance I would do everything in my power to make it as good as possible.

"I have a Nigerian passport so it's always been a dream of mine to go to the national team. I don't feel like it's worth being disappointed about it. 

"It's more like if it comes I will be very happy, if not I will still fight and try to make it." 

The Swedish-based goaltender has also expressed that he would be delighted if called up to the Super Eagles squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, citing familiarity with Victor Boniface and Victor Osimhen.

"For a football player it is the biggest thing that you can do - represent your country. It would be a big, big honour so I don't think you can describe it until you are there.

"My old team BK Hacken played against Boniface like two weeks ago and that would of course be amazing, just not even playing with, playing against.

"And then of course Osimhen in Napoli is a big player now, and then you have all these players that play in the Premier League," the 31-year-old said.

José Peseiro's side have been grouped alongside host nation Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in Group A of Africa's biggest football tournament.
 

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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