Head coach of Nigeria’s senior national team, Eric Chelle, has reportedly selected Francis Uzoho as the new first-choice goalkeeper for the Super Eagles. This decision comes as Stanley Nwabali, who terminated his contract with Chippa United, currently remains without a club, raising concerns about his match fitness ahead of the team’s return to action later this month.
Chelle is said to have moved swiftly to confirm Uzoho, who previously served as the second-choice goalkeeper during Nigeria’s last Africa Cup of Nations campaign where the team secured a third-place finish.
Sources indicate that the coach remains unimpressed with Maduka Okoye, currently with Udinese. Okoye reportedly snubbed the national team during the AFCON after being informed he would not be the first-choice keeper, a move Chelle allegedly viewed as a challenge to his authority.
However, Uzoho is expected to face significant competition from Arthur Okonkwo, who recently switched allegiance from England to Nigeria and currently plays for Wrexham AFC. While Okonkwo is eligible to participate in friendly matches, he must await clearance from FIFA regarding his nationality switch before he can feature in competitive fixtures such as AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.
This development sets the stage for a renewed rivalry within Nigeria’s goalkeeping department as the Super Eagles prepare for crucial upcoming engagements.
