Dele Ajiboye came into prominence when he inspired Nigeria to victory at the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup in South Korea and was voted the competition’s best goalkeeper. After the competition, he was drafted to the U 20 side and has been between the posts for the country at the U23 level and the home-based national team. However, he has failed to establish himself in the senior national team. He was listed in the Super Eagles provisional 30-man team to the 2018 World Cup in Russia by Gernot Rohr but failed to make the final 23-man team that will hoist Nigeria’s flag at the tournament. For the Plateau United goal tender, that the competition would have been an opportunity to relieve his rivalry with Spain goalkeeper, David de Gea, whom he beat to the Golden Gloves at the U17 level. Kunle Adewale reports
Dele Ajiboye was listed in the Super Eagles’ 30-man provisional list. Those following his trajectory from the U17 level thought his time to show himself at the big stage had finally arrived. Alas, it was not to be as his name was dropped when the list was pruned to 25 players.
Ajiboye, however, nurses no ill-feelings against anybody but rather thanked God for the opportunity given to him by the coaching crew to be invited to fight for a place in the team. “I believe at God’s appointed time, I’ll be in post for Nigeria. I never believed I’ll be in camp with the team in the first place. Moreover, the other goalkeepers have been there before me and it was not easy to displace them. All I need to do now is to improve on some of the things that were identified as grey areas in my goalkeeping and by the time I return, I’ll be returning a better goalkeeper,†the Plateau United goalkeeper said.
Ajiboye disagrees with the notion that Deportivo de La Corona of Spain goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho got the nod ahead of him because of his height advantage, saying, “At 1.8metres, I’m not a short goalkeeper; goalkeeping is about experience and good positioning rather than height. After all, former Mexico goalkeeper, Jorge Campos, was not a tall person and was a great goalkeeper. I have been in constant touch with the team’s goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agwu, and he told me I should continue with my training schedule and that I have a very bright future with the national team. I believe strongly that Uzoho would perform well in Russia.â€
He said further: “The coach had to pick 23 players from a list of 30 and some people had to be dropped. Unfortunately, I was one of those that won’t be in Russia. I must admit it was painful but there will always be another World Cup. The most important thing is to keep working hard and hope for a brighter future.â€
Asked to give an insight into the Super Eagles camp, Ajiboye reacted thus: “From what I witnessed in camp before I was dropped, everything was okay with the team in terms of support from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the excellent coaching the players are exposed to. There was perfect unity and everybody was working together to achieve one goal-a good outing at the World Cup in Russia.â€
Against the insinuation in some quarters that Nigeria would not qualify from the group stages of the World Cup, Ajiboye is strongly tipping the team for a semifinal place in Russia. “There is a great bond in the team, no rancor amongst players and the issue of winning bonuses that usually rock Nigerian teams in major competitions are not with this present team. And these are the things that would drive the team to go far,†he said.
He also has kind words for Gernot Rohr; saying he is a very good manager both tactically and managerially.
On how he feels that David de Gea whose direction was not looked at all while Ajiboye was voted the best goalkeeper at the FIFA U17 World Cup in South Korea would be manning the post for Spain in Russia while he failed to make the team for Nigeria, he said, “I not only feel bad that he would be at the World Cup and I won’t be there. But it’s a setback for me each time I watch him keep for Manchester United in the Premier League every week. I always pray to God that I should one day get to that level too.â€
Ajiboye emerged as one of Nigeria’s African Nations Championship heroes in Morocco. In Nigeria’s semi-final victory over Sudan, the goalkeeper had a bigger impact in determining the result of the game with a string of impressive saves.
His form in that high-profile clash earned him invitation into the Super Eagles. The Plateau United man had to patiently bid his time as backup to first-choice and captain Ikechukwu Ezenwa at the CHAN.
When called upon in the early minutes of the physical semi-final clash against the Falcons after Ezenwa got injured, Ajiboye earned double his match bonus and caught the eye of Rohr.
Sudan coach Zdravko Logarusic was particularly impressed by the stopper’s display.
“Ajiboye started well and, for me, he is the Man of The Match. He is the one who gave Nigeria the final slot. When they needed help at the back, he was the man who saved them,” Logarusic told journalists after the match.
The journey to the top for the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup winner hasn’t been as direct and smooth as he would have projected 11 years ago after helping Nigeria to their third title.
Like most African goalkeepers, he struggled to earn a move to Europe, and when he eventually did sign for Pontevedra CF in the lower division of Spain, Ajiboye was soon back in Nigeria after two years playing professionally abroad.
He soon settled back into the domestic top-flight league, playing for a number of clubs including Shooting Stars, Nasarawa United and Warri Wolves.
However, success had largely evaded him before he joined Plateau United at the start of last season.
The decision to move to Jos proved to be a masterstroke for the talented goalkeeper as he won the NPFL title last term, reminding observers of the qualities which made him a standout talent during his time with Nigeria’s youth teams.
Ajiboye, however, nurses no ill-feelings against anybody but rather thanked God for the opportunity given to him by the coaching crew to be invited to fight for a place in the team. “I believe at God’s appointed time, I’ll be in post for Nigeria. I never believed I’ll be in camp with the team in the first place. Moreover, the other goalkeepers have been there before me and it was not easy to displace them. All I need to do now is to improve on some of the things that were identified as grey areas in my goalkeeping and by the time I return, I’ll be returning a better goalkeeper,†the Plateau United goalkeeper said.
Ajiboye disagrees with the notion that Deportivo de La Corona of Spain goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho got the nod ahead of him because of his height advantage, saying, “At 1.8metres, I’m not a short goalkeeper; goalkeeping is about experience and good positioning rather than height. After all, former Mexico goalkeeper, Jorge Campos, was not a tall person and was a great goalkeeper. I have been in constant touch with the team’s goalkeeper trainer, Alloy Agwu, and he told me I should continue with my training schedule and that I have a very bright future with the national team. I believe strongly that Uzoho would perform well in Russia.â€
He said further: “The coach had to pick 23 players from a list of 30 and some people had to be dropped. Unfortunately, I was one of those that won’t be in Russia. I must admit it was painful but there will always be another World Cup. The most important thing is to keep working hard and hope for a brighter future.â€
Asked to give an insight into the Super Eagles camp, Ajiboye reacted thus: “From what I witnessed in camp before I was dropped, everything was okay with the team in terms of support from the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the excellent coaching the players are exposed to. There was perfect unity and everybody was working together to achieve one goal-a good outing at the World Cup in Russia.â€
Against the insinuation in some quarters that Nigeria would not qualify from the group stages of the World Cup, Ajiboye is strongly tipping the team for a semifinal place in Russia. “There is a great bond in the team, no rancor amongst players and the issue of winning bonuses that usually rock Nigerian teams in major competitions are not with this present team. And these are the things that would drive the team to go far,†he said.
He also has kind words for Gernot Rohr; saying he is a very good manager both tactically and managerially.
On how he feels that David de Gea whose direction was not looked at all while Ajiboye was voted the best goalkeeper at the FIFA U17 World Cup in South Korea would be manning the post for Spain in Russia while he failed to make the team for Nigeria, he said, “I not only feel bad that he would be at the World Cup and I won’t be there. But it’s a setback for me each time I watch him keep for Manchester United in the Premier League every week. I always pray to God that I should one day get to that level too.â€
Ajiboye emerged as one of Nigeria’s African Nations Championship heroes in Morocco. In Nigeria’s semi-final victory over Sudan, the goalkeeper had a bigger impact in determining the result of the game with a string of impressive saves.
His form in that high-profile clash earned him invitation into the Super Eagles. The Plateau United man had to patiently bid his time as backup to first-choice and captain Ikechukwu Ezenwa at the CHAN.
When called upon in the early minutes of the physical semi-final clash against the Falcons after Ezenwa got injured, Ajiboye earned double his match bonus and caught the eye of Rohr.
Sudan coach Zdravko Logarusic was particularly impressed by the stopper’s display.
“Ajiboye started well and, for me, he is the Man of The Match. He is the one who gave Nigeria the final slot. When they needed help at the back, he was the man who saved them,” Logarusic told journalists after the match.
The journey to the top for the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup winner hasn’t been as direct and smooth as he would have projected 11 years ago after helping Nigeria to their third title.
Like most African goalkeepers, he struggled to earn a move to Europe, and when he eventually did sign for Pontevedra CF in the lower division of Spain, Ajiboye was soon back in Nigeria after two years playing professionally abroad.
He soon settled back into the domestic top-flight league, playing for a number of clubs including Shooting Stars, Nasarawa United and Warri Wolves.
However, success had largely evaded him before he joined Plateau United at the start of last season.
The decision to move to Jos proved to be a masterstroke for the talented goalkeeper as he won the NPFL title last term, reminding observers of the qualities which made him a standout talent during his time with Nigeria’s youth teams.
