Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper Francis Odinaka Uzoho will start his first game for the senior national team of Nigeria when they take on Poland in an international friendly tomorrow in Wroclaw.
Uzoho made his senior national team bow for Nigeria by playing as a substitute in their 4-2 win over Argentina last year, with Daniel Akpeyi starting ahead of him.
Akpeyi is ruled out of this game after his failure to secure a visa to travel for the game from his base in South Africa, while goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa who is the first choice only started training yesterday.
Coach Gernot Rohr who sent his goalkeeper trainer Enrico Pionetti to drill the shot stopper at his base in Spain has seen enough to hand Uzoho a starting berth in tomorrow’s game.
The goalkeepers will have a chance to stake his claim to the number one spot of the Eagles, which is still up for grabs despite Ezenwa status as the first choice since Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with Leukaemia.
Another player in line for a start is Amkar Perm defender Brian Idowu who marked his debut in the game against Argentina with a goal. The 25 year old fend off competition from Ola Aina and Elderson Echiejile to secure the left back spot.
Osas Mahawi
