The goalkeepers crisis rocking the senior national team of Nigeria became an issue of concern to many Nigerians after first choice goalkeeper Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with Leukaemia.
Ikeme’s unfortunate diagnosis left the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr with few options in the goalkeeping department, and after using Daniel Akpeyi for a while. Ikechukwu Ezenwa is now the first choice shot stopper of the team.
Ezenwa upstaged the Chippa United safe hands after injury ruled him out of Nigeria’s back to back World Cup 2018 Qualifiers tie against Cameroon in Uyo and Yaounde respectively.
Despite the performances of the duo Nigerians are still skeptical of their abilities, with many clamouring for Deportivo La Coruna B goalkeeper Francis Odinaka Uzoho to man the post at the World Cup.
Uzoho won the heart of many Nigerians with an impressive 45 minutes display in the Eagles 4-2 win over Argentina in a friendly game last year after his breakthrough at the LaLiga , where he made three first team appearances.
Speaking in a BBC World Service programme monitored by Owngoalnigeria.com, Rohr confirmed that Ikeme will take the traditional kick off before Nigeria’s final World Cup 2018 friendly game against England.
It means he will once again be back in the Eagles fold for the first time since he was diagnosed with Leukaemia just before the start of pre season training at English Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Michael James
