Nigeria goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is deeply saddened with his suspension by the Cyprus Football Association following ineligibility claim against him and his club Anorthosis Famagusta, reports Completesports.com.
Uzoho, 20, was handed a one-match ban and a fine of 1,000 euros by the CFA on Monday following a complaint of ineligibility Apollon Limassol.
The young goalkeeper linked up with Cypriot club, Anorthosis Famagusta on a six-month loan deal on the final day of the winter transfer window from Spanish side, Deportivo La Coruna.
He made his debut two days later in Anorthosis Famagusta’s 1-0 win against Apollon Limassol.
Limassol later filed a protest with Cyprus Football Association claiming Uzoho was ineligible to feature in the game.
They questioned the validity of the mandatory medical certificate submitted by Anorthosis on behalf of the player as they insisted Uzoho arrived Cyprus hours after the KOA office had shut down on February 1.
Uzoho as a result of the impasse has missed Anorthosis’ last two league games against Nea Salamis and AC Omonia. He will miss this weekend’s clash against Ermis as result of the suspension.
“How I feel is complicated because I have complex feelings. I can not speak clearly about what I feel. They have stopped me from playing. I’m sad,” Uzoho stated in an interview with Alpha Cyprus news centre.
Uzoho who spent the first half of the season with Spanish Segunda B side, Elche also says he never considered leaving Cyprus despite the whole brouhaha that surrounded his debut for Anorthosis.
“I do not want to leave because I can not leave. If I go to vacation I can not play anywhere else and I want to play. So it is not an option. I want to play in Anorthosis, I have a contract until May,” he added.
Uzoho refuses to comment on whether he had his medical before the game against Limassol.
“I can not answer. It has never happened before. Nor have I heard it again, this is the first time in European football,”he disclosed.
He is however elated to have linked up with Anorthosis and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Shehu Abdullahi and Nosa Igiebor who has featured for the club in the past.
“It’s a good team, with history. Several Nigerians have played here. It’s a good team for Nigerians. For the fans are good, in the game I played they gave me a good support. “
By Adeboye Amosu
