Manu Garba, the former Golden Eaglets and Flying Eagles head coach, has expressed his belief in Ifeanyi Mathew’s potential to significantly contribute to the Super Eagles in solving their midfield issues. The Super Eagles have endured a struggle with midfield creativity following the retirement from international football of the former captain of the side, John Mikel Obi.
Despite his impressive club form, Mathew, a former Flying Eagles and home-based Super Eagles midfielder, has been overlooked by the national team selectors. The 26-year-old has been in outstanding form for the Swiss club, FC Zurich, this season, having scored one goal and provided three assists in 15 league appearances in the Swiss Super League.
Garba highlighted Mathew’s qualities, emphasizing his potential to become a key star for the Super Eagles. He mentioned discovering Mathew alongside Musa Muhammed in 2013 and his instrumental role in the team’s victory at the U-20 AFCON in Senegal in 2015.
Garba further emphasized Mathew’s consistency and value as an addition to the Super Eagles, especially in the midfield area where the team needs improvement. He praised Mathew’s vision in connecting with the attack and defense, as well as his ability to score goals from long range, citing his influential role in creating goals during the 2015 U-20 campaign in Senegal.
Mathew also had previous experience as a member of the home-based Super Eagles side that participated in the 2016 Africa Nations Championship under coach Sunday Oliseh.
