There is a goalkeeper crisis brewing in the camp of the senior national team of Nigeria following the decision of two senior goalkeppers to take a break from international football, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.
The duo of Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho who are first and second choice goalkeppers respectively have told the handlers of the team that they want a break from international football.
Okoye hasn’t represented Nigeria since his howler at the Africa Cup of Nations which gifted Tunisia the lone goal that led to the exit of the Super Eagles from the tournament at the round of 16.
Uzoho on his part was responsible for the goal scored by Ghana which sealed their spot at the World Cup at the expense of the Super Eagles of Nigeria during the second leg of their playoff in Abuja.
Both goalkeppers were subjected to several online insults and in the case of Okoye he even received death threats. A source told this portal that the decision of the duo has been communicated to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
” Okoye wants a break from international football. He hasn’t recovered mentally from the way he was treated after the Super Eagles exit from the Africa Cup of Nations. He even received death threats and his family members were also not left out”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
” In the case of Uzoho it was clear that he will find it hard to recover from that error. He was in tears at half time and didn’t want to play in the second half. The coaches had to beg him to finish the game. At this stage he is the only one who can say if he is ready to return”, he concluded.