Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali were initially selected for the Super Eagles squad to take on Ghana and Mali in Morocco.
Francis Uzoho could replace Nwabali
However, it appears that Francis Uzoho, who had been overlooked in recent times, is poised to step in for the injured Stanley Nwabali as Nigeria’s goalkeeper for this month’s international friendlies.
Nwabali gets injured
Nwabali, who had been the first-choice goalkeeper for the Super Eagles in the recent Africa Cup of Nations, is doubtful for the matches after sustaining an injury during a league game for Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa.
After playing for 73 minutes in Sundowns’ 2-0 win against Chippa United on Saturday, the 27-year-old was substituted, raising concerns about his fitness for the upcoming friendlies in Marrakech, as per complete sports.
Nwabali played a key role for Nigeria during AFCON 2023, setting a new national team record for clean sheets on their journey to the final, where they were defeated by host nation Ivory Coast.
Nwabali’s impressive AFCON performance
His outstanding displays earned him the position as Jose Peseiro’s first-choice goalkeeper, displacing Uzoho, who had previously held the regular starting role for the Super Eagles.
Nevertheless, this unfortunate injury setback appears to have provided Uzoho with the opportunity to reclaim his position for the upcoming matches against West African opponents Ghana and Mali on March 22nd and 26th.
Enyimba’s Ojo Olorunleke joins Francis Uzoho and Stanley Nwabali as the trio of goalkeepers selected in the 26-man Nigerian squad for Morocco, as they kickstart their campaign towards qualifying for the 2025 edition of AFCON.
However, the spotlight will primarily be on Uzoho, as fans eagerly anticipate whether he can reclaim his position as the goalkeeper and deliver his trademark stunning saves against both the Black Stars and the Malian Eagles.
