Manu tips Ifeanyi Matthew to shine in Eagles

Ifeanyi Matthew (left) has shown class in the Flying Eagles and Golden Eagelts and coach Manu backs him to now shine with the Super Eagles

Coach Manu Garba has tipped El Kanemi Warriors midfielder Ifeanyi Matthew to take his chance with the Super Eagles.

Flying Eagles midfielder Matthew has been named on a 23-man squad of players from the domestic league ahead of next month’s AFCON qualifier in Tanzania.

Manu said the player could well bring the creativity that has been lacking in the Eagles midfield for a long time now.

“The Eagles handlers were spot-on in inviting Ifeanyi Matthew because he is a very creative player whose wide-range vision and long balls will remind you of Sunday Oliseh in his playing days,” he said.

“I was even a bit surprised that the U23s have not considered the player even though they very much know what he is capable of.

“God’s willing he will prove himself in the Super Eagles now.”

Manu added: “The good thing too is that he will now work with a coach (Eagles assistant coach Salisu Yusuf) who knows him even before he played for the Golden Eaglets.

“It was even Salisu who gave him his breakthrough in the premier league with El Kanemi and so he will know how best to use the boy.”

Matthew featured at the 2013 African U17 Championship in Morocco and also played at the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal, which Nigeria won with the versatile midfielder scoring three goals and providing several assists to Taiwo Awoniyi.

A serious foot injury he suffered in an opening game against Brazil ended his campaign at the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.