By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, John Dosu, has called on Nigerians to show support for Ebenezer Harcourt, the Flying Eagles’ goalkeeper, following widespread criticism after the team’s exit from the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.
Harcourt, who also plays for Sporting Lagos, faced heavy backlash after conceding four goals in Nigeria’s defeat to Argentina, a result that ended the country’s campaign in the tournament.
The loss triggered intense scrutiny of his performance, with critics questioning his readiness and suggesting his selection was influenced by media hype rather than merit.
Dosu, a 1996 Olympic gold medallist, defended the young shot-stopper, emphasizing that criticism at this stage of his career is counterproductive.
“People should remember Harcourt is still a young and developing goalkeeper,” Dosu said. “What he needs now is encouragement, not condemnation. He will grow and improve with time.”
He further noted that tournaments like the U-20 World Cup are essential learning experiences for emerging talents and cautioned against placing undue pressure on players still in their formative years.
“Mistakes are part of a goalkeeper’s growth. We need to be patient and support him through this phase,” Dosu added.
The Flying Eagles’ elimination has sparked wider conversations about squad selection and player development, but Dosu insists the focus should now be on nurturing talents like Harcourt rather than tearing them down.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
