Omeruo targets Yobo and Enyeama's Nigeria record

Kenneth Omeruo of Nigeria during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals, semifinals Nigeria press conference at Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 13 July 2019 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

by Staff Reporter

Monday May 04, 2020. 12:00

Nigeria international Kenneth Omeruo is keen to match the records set by Joseph Yobo and Vincent Enyeama.

Yobo and Enyeama, who helped the Super Eagles clinch the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), played 101 international matches for Nigeria which is a record.

Legendary defender Yobo and veteran goalkeeper Enyeama have both retired from international football.

Omeruo, who is a regular in the Super Eagles team under head coach Gernot Rohr, has played 52 matches thus far.

“It’s really a great achievement for a player to make 100 appearances for Nigeria because there are great talents in Nigeria,” Omeruo told Brila FM.

“I think it’s also difficult to play that amount of games for the national team, because we have different coaches coming in, changing the team and inviting other players.

“I would have made about 80 appearances if I play all the qualifiers and also considering the games that I was on the bench,” the 26-year-old player continued.

“But it’s about the manager and if the player is lucky with the injury.

“It will be a great achievement for me to reach that number, but like I said it’s not in the players’ hands.”

Omeruo is currently on the books of Spanish La Liga side Leganes with the current season having been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.