The absence of the first choice goalkepper of the senior national team of Nigeria Maduka Okoye was a cause for concern as the team build up to the World Cup playoff against Ghana.
Okoye the only goalkepper who is a regular has been ruled out of the game with an unspecified illness leaving the team in the hands of two senior goalkeppers in Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi. John Noble of Enyimba was called up as his replacement.
All three goalkeppers have struggled for game time since the start of the year with Akpeyi yet to taste action for over a month while Uzoho has kept goal just three times since January. Noble only recently reclaimed his spot as first choice.
However such fears were laid to rest during yesterday’s training with Uzoho proving that he is more than capable to fill up for the absence of Okoye in goal in tomorrow’s game during yesterday’s session.
After stopping just one of six spot kicks from Odion Ighalo and losing $200 in the process , he made atonement for it by stopping three spot kicks from same player. He also made a stupendous save from a well hit freekick from Emmanuel Dennis.
Uzoho didn’t stop there as he showed good reflex and reaction to twice deny Victor Osimhen a clear chance at goal. He was also very good in dealing with shot during the shooting session. His ball distribution was all very much up there during the course of a practice match.