Now everyone loves Ike

Ike foils Batistuta

Nigeria could easily have lost their opening World Cup group f game against Argentina if it were not for the heroics of Ike Shorunmu in goal.

Suddenly everyone was saying just how much faith they had in Ike, but the truth is you You couldn't blame Ike Shorunmu if he'd turned round and stuck two fingers up to the world. Nigeria's number one has taken an awful lot of stick recently.

At least the 34-year-old has his post-World Cup future secured after a year of uncertainty. After being released by Turkish outfit Besiktas last season, he had looked on course to be club-less during this summer's tournaments. But Lausanne took him on to the end of the season and have retained him for next season as well.

Shorunmu missed the World Cup four years ago after breaking his arm. In his place the Nigerians took Peter Rufai, and it was Rufai who carried much of the can for the disappointing performance against Denmark in the second round. How Nigeria could have done with Shorunmu who had just been voted among the top 20 goalkeepers in the 1997/98. Shorunmu had booked his ticket after a great performance in a friendly against Germany in Koln in April 1998.

No doubt Shorunmu can sympathise with Rufai because he has carried much of the can for defeat in the last two Nations Cup campaigns. Many hold him responsible for the country's Nations Cup woes in Mali 2002. His offence? Giving away two cheap goals to Senegal in the semi final. Some say Shorunmu's problems in Mali could really be traced to the Ghana-Nigeria 2000 Nations Cup finals. His performance against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the final was considered by some as mediocre. He was criticised for both Cameroonian goals as the Cameroonians went on to win on penalties.

When many thought he had made up for his Ghana-Nigeria 2000 sins following as the Super Eagles wobbled and fumbled to the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup ticket his problems were really just starting. Shorunmu had played in the crucial World Cup qualifier against Ghana in Port Harcourt against the wishes of hisTurkish club Besiktas. Besiktas cut him adrift and he couldn't pick up another club.

His critics clamoured for his exclusion from from the Nations Cup in Mali after he made a mistake in a friendly against Japan the previous October thanks to ring rust. Previous coach Amodu Shaibu had total faith,however, and told African Sport that Ike was his number one come what may.

He is certainly repaying that faith now, even if Amodu is no longer at the helm.

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