Alampasu Unfazed Over Poland, Serbia Snub; Praises Uzoho & 'Good Brother' Ikeme

Former Nigeria youth international Dele Alampasu is unperturbed about his non inclusion in the Super Eagles team for the pre-World Cup friendlies later this month against Poland and Serbia.

The trio of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi and Francis Uzoho made the cut while Alampasu who has not played for his Portuguese top flight club CD Feirense, this season, was understandably overlooked.

The shot stopper spoke exclusively to allnigeriasoccer.com on Thursday as Gernot Rhor's team continue preparations for the World Cup which kicks off in 98 days time.

"I am not disappointed by the outcome of things," Alampasu begins.

"I just want to be who I am. I want to work harder than I am doing now  so I can be among the next team (in possibly the friendly against England on June 2) and eventually be in the squad for Russia."

The U-17 World Cup winner in the United Arab Emirates in 2013 further spoke on the emergence of his then Golden Eaglets teammate, and second choice keeper, Francis Uzoho.

"He (Francis) is doing so good at Deportivo and he is working so hard. We all saw what he can do in the friendly against Argentina.

"There has been talk of him deserving to play in the club's first team and if he should change clubs. But I feel for now, no.

"For now we see him with the team (Eagles) so we all pray he succeeds.''

Alampasu then identifies crocked Eagles keeper Carl Ikeme as perhaps the goalkeeper with the greatest impact in his career.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers custodian was in 2017 diagnosed by the club medics to have leukemia which cruelly has put his World Cup in jeopardy.

"Talking about the keepers who have had the greatest impact in my career, well no one really but Carl Ikeme has been a good brother to me.

''He has helped me a lot through tough times. I do admire his fighting spirit," Alampasu stressed.

Izuchukwu Okosi