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Francis Uzoho all things being equal will be in goal when the Super Eagles take on Sao Tome and Principe in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday.
The 24-year-old missed the Super Eagles 3-2 victory against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in June due to suspension.
Adebayo Adeleye was in goal in the encounter played at the Samuel Kayon Doe Stadium, Monrovia, Liberia.
Read Also:2023 AFCONQ: Why Super Eagles Must Approach São Tomé Game Like World Cup Final —Babayaro
According to reliable camp source, Uzoho is expected to regain his position in goal against the True Patriots.
The shot stopper have edge over Adeleye and the Enyimba’s Ojo Olorunleke, Completesports.com learnt.
The former Golden Eaglets goalie has made 27 appearances for the Super Eagles.
By Adeboye Amosu in Uyo
6 Comments
We have spent huge amount to bring these players in but may just end up not seeing enough of what they can truly offer because it’s just one game.
How come our NFF couldn’t think of organising friendly matches to at least give every invited player quality chance to show what they ve got, beats me. YES THEY MIGHT STRUGGLE TO GET OTHER NATIONS BECAUSE OF THEIR USUAL COMPLAINTS OF FUNDS BUT WE HAVE ENYIMBA, INSURANCE, RIVERS, AND REMO STARS, who in my opinion will certainly be at the same level with SAO TOME, no disrespect. Those teams may be on a lower level to our SE but will surely provide benefits to producing a stronger SE by
1) Making good use of international window.
2) Help in team blending/building.
3) Help coach try different formation to know most suitable.
4) Help weed out pretenders from the team.
5) Give fans some satisfaction on reason why certain players has to be in team or otherwise.
6) Give newly invited players chance to show quality. Etc
Westerhof did this back in the days playing the likes of Iwanyanwu nationale, Ranchers bees, Stationary stores etc. So I can’t understand why present management /coaches are constantly failing to follow suit, sadly wasting away such good opportunities for raising a formidable SE team
Hopefully with Peseiro being made to manage both the mainstream SE and CHAN, one of the BEST decision taking by the FA so far, they can start making good use of international windows preferably playing top countries or at the least constantly engaging the CHAN team as well as our local league club sides. We should as a matter of fact be playing at least two extra games during any international break.
@Glory, we need people like you running the NFF. See how they will waste this international window on just one match with opportunities to play another team.
Thumbs up brotherman for this opinion.
Uzoho Ke??
Bia, unless these people are clueless, there must be something untoward going on joor- the only other scenario that I will consider and it will literally be for this game and just this game alone is that maybe, they want to give this guy a last and final chance to show anything good or that he has learnt and improved- Although I don’t see how anything can change because we already know with plenty of examples that Uzoho is a basket and just a recipe to give many Nigerians HBP, but still that is the only conceivable likelihood as to why Pasero and his new team (all of them o) would be doing such an unconscionable thing, as to still be trying to force this basket on Nigerians as their number 1 goalkeeper!
Chaii!
Which way Nigeria??? People wey God bless but wey go dey use dem own hand curse dem own self?? Haba..Una nor try o!
Okay o, Siddon look mode activated…
Ire o
God bless Nigeria!
Keep favoring players who have failed to justify their inclusions. Under a normal circumstance, a serious team will reexamine invitation to some players who have failed to step up after several opportunities.
The major reasons why the team became on of the best in 90’s is stiff competition and discipline.
1. At this point I recommend that the handlers should search for national team material for the goalkeeping position because Uzoho is far from it. Someone that is warming the bench in a below top 30 leagues in the world should never be close to SE bench.it is only corruption that will invitate a GK that is yet to play a single match for his club in a lowly rated league where as there are other ones plsying regularly in better leagues. Besides, Uzoho has been very disappointing in his last 5 matches for SE. Enyeama was playing for Enyimba when he participated in his first Wcup and rose to become the best GK in Isreal and France. Adeleye who has been more active and did well in his last matches should be selected for this game.
2. The consistent invitation of some players who have failed to live up to expectations in several games. How many goals or assists have Iheanacho and Chukwueze contributed since the last Afcon. Chukwuez has been performing below expectation since the last nations cup and its time for him to shape up or get shipped out. Although Lookman and Simon have performed better with goal and assist per match ration. They have not lived up to expectation. The coaches might want to look into upgrading the wingers. May be give Room to Ebuehi or Aina to attack from the wings.
3. The team still needs a ball distributor. A creative midfielder that can make defence splitting passes. Aribo and Iwobi have not been helping in this case. Samson Tijani, Marcus, and Nnadi are good options.
4. The team is still lacking a CD who can rove fluidly and shoot at sight. Dele Tom Bashiru is a perfect example of a box to box CD that needs to be integrated into the team Asap. This guy is doing greatly at Watford. Alhassan Yusuf is another option. Hopefully Onyeka and Onyedika will make good of this opportunity.
5. The SE attack ranks among the deadliest in the world of soccer. Osi, Awo, Boni, Orban are nanes that have global spread. Osi is tearing Serie A like paper, Awo took top defenders EPL to the cleaners to the extent that Chelsea made attempts to sign him towards the last transfer deadline. Boni is burning Bundesliga, and Orban is gifting and banging the net with goals in the Jupiter and Euro competition. The handlers need to find the right combination and make it competitive to the point that anyone that is selected is made to understand that second chance will be hard to find. This match should be used to test formation. I would start with Osi and Boni for 45 minutes then start the second half with Awo and Orban in the second half.
The SE should jot be a rehabilitation center, only players that are playing regularly in competitive leagues should be considered. No need inviting Uzoho when we could have brought in younger or active GKs.
There you go again. From Oga Rohr and now Oga Paseiro. Uzoho has been failing to improve and impress, but still, he is still keeping his role as a one goalie when we have Osagwe and Nwabali? 9ja for show. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Uzoho is far better than the other goalkeepers in this team. He has been to 2 world cups and 2 Afcons. Experience is king.
Adeleye is still learning.
Heaven bless Uzoho and all deserving Super Eagles Goalkeepers.