Kwara United goalkeeper coach Dele Aiyenugba is confident that new signing Khalifa Quattara will make a strong impression in the EuroMatch/Nigeria Premier Football League this season.

The Malian shot-stopper made his debut for Kwara United in the opening fixture of the 2026/2027 NPFL campaign, a 2-2 draw against Kano Pillars at the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.

"Kwara United, as a team, has a good collection of players. But I can only speak about the goalkeeping area because that's my own specific area," Aiyenugba said.

"Not minding the draw against Kano Pillars, I think we have a good team and I know we have good goalkeepers. Quattara just joined us from Mali — that game against Kano Pillars was his first. We have other goalkeepers too, and I think goalkeeping won't be a problem for us this season."

A decorated career behind the advice

Aiyenugba speaks from hard-won experience. He is a two-time CAF Champions League winner with Enyimba, having lifted the trophy in both 2003 and 2004 — one of the most celebrated achievements in Nigerian club football history. He earned 17 caps for the Nigeria Super Eagles across junior and senior levels before retiring from playing in 2024.

His club career also took him to Israel, where he represented Bnei Yehuda (2007–2016), Hapoel Ashkelon (2016–2018), Hapoel Iksal (2018–2019), and Hapoel Afula (2019–2020). After more than a decade in Europe, he returned to Nigerian football and joined his boyhood club, Kwara United, first as a player and now as goalkeeper coach.

Renowned for his ability to stop penalty kicks, Aiyenugba was asked whether he could pass that particular skill on to those under his tutelage. He was optimistic.

"Yes, I think it's a possibility. It's just about hard work, focus, and concentration. There's no doubt it can be possible," he said.

His son, Daniel Aiyenugba, is currently the goalkeeper for Beyond Limit FC, carrying the family tradition forward.