After putting up impressive performance as Nigeria defeated Sierra Leone to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Coe d’Ivoire, goalie, Adebayo Adeleye, has celebrated his debut for the three times African champions.
The 23-year-old has featured on Jose Peseiro’s call-up list since the manager was appointed on May 16. 2022.
Ironically, his first call-up to the team came in Super Eagles’ match-day 1 of the AFCON qualifying series against the same opponents, Sierra Leone, back in June 2022, but remained an unused substitute, with the same applying to the next game against Sao Tome & Principe.
Adeleye kept cutting, in subsequent games which were international friendlies against Algeria and Portugal, but had to bid his time with Francis Uzoho retaining his first-choice jersey under Peseiro.
In the meantime, Adeleye impressed for his club side – Hapoel Jerusalem, conceding 37 goals in 29 Ligat Ha’Al appearances across the regular season and championship round, keeping 10 clean sheets.
In a post on the social media platform Twitter, Adeleye expressed his delight for getting into Peseiro’s starting eleven against the Leone Stars, a game he made crucial saves to keep the Leone Stars down at two goals, helping the team snatch a late winner through Kelechi Ịheanachọ at the other end of the pitch.
@GAAdebayoAdeleye on Twitter: “Dream debut done and dusted. Thank you to everyone for believing in me & for the support.”
Bsnsports.com reports that Adeleye signed a seven-year contract with his club Hapoel Jerusalem back in 2019 and still has three years left on his contract, with the Southwestern Nigerian likely following in the footsteps of former international and Super Eagles icon – Vincent Enyeama, who dazzled in the Israeli League in his time.
