Kwara United goalkeeping coach Dele Aiyenugba believes Malian goalkeeper Khalifa Quattara can establish himself in the EuroMatch/Nigeria Premier Football League after making his debut for the club.
Quattara started in Kwara United’s opening fixture of the 2026/2027 season, a 2-2 draw against Kano Pillars at the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.
The match was the goalkeeper’s first appearance since joining the club from Mali, but Aiyenugba says Kwara United have sufficient strength in the goalkeeping department to cope with the demands of the campaign.
“Kwara United, as a team, has good collection of players. But I can only speak about the goalkeeping area because that’s my own specific area,” Aiyenugba, a former Nigeria Super Eagles goalkeeper, said.
“Not minding the draw (2-2) against Kano Pillars, I think we have a good team an I know we have good goalkeepers.
“Quattara just joined us from Mali. That (game vs Kano Pillars) is his first game. We’ve other goalkeepers too and I think goalkeeping won’t be a problem for us this season.”
Aiyenugba’s assessment comes from a coach with extensive experience in goal and a reputation for saving penalties. He was a back-to-back winner of the CAF Champions League with Enyimba in 2003 and 2004, and represented Nigeria at both junior and senior levels.
The former Bnei Yehuda goalkeeper was asked whether Kwara United could develop a player capable of matching his own record in stopping penalty kicks. He said the possibility depended on commitment and concentration.
“Yes, I think its a possibility. Its just about hard work, focus and concentration. There’s no doubt it can be possible,” said Aiyenugba, whose son, Daniel Aiyenugba, is goalkeeper for Beyond Limit FC.
Aiyenugba enjoyed a long career in Nigeria and Europe before moving into coaching. He travelled to Israel in 2007 and played for Bnei Yehuda until 2016. He then spent two years with Hapoel Ashkelon, followed by spells at Hapoel Iksal from 2018 to 2019 and Hapoel Afula from 2019 to 2020.
He later returned to Nigerian football by joining his boyhood club, Kwara United.
Aiyenugba won 17 caps for Nigeria and ended his playing career in 2024. He subsequently joined Kwara United’s coaching staff as goalkeeper coach, taking responsibility for a position in which he built a distinguished reputation during his playing days.
Kwara United will hope Quattara can build on his first appearance as they continue their 2026/2027 campaign, with Aiyenugba confident that the club’s goalkeeping options will not be a weakness this season.