The decision of coach Gernot Rohr to stick with goalkeeper Francis Odinaka Uzoho for today’s game ahead of regular first choice goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa has stirred up some debates among followers of Nigerian football.
Ezenwa was widely expected to return between the sticks for Nigeria after missing the 1-0 win against Poland on Friday, but coach Rohr has once again picked the young Uzoho ahead of him.
Uzoho impressed in the second half of Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Poland on Friday after a not too comfortable start to the game, but many still expected Ezenwa to be picked for today’s game.
Owngoalnigeria.com can exclusively reveal that Rohr decided to stick with the Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper due to his performance in training, and also the need to develop his confidence further ahead of the World Cup.
Insiders still believe that Ezenwa is Rohr’s anointed as first choice for the World Cup in Russia, with Uzoho firmly established as his preferred second choice, meaning Daniel Akpeyi who was made first choice after the unfortunate cancer diagnosis of numbers one Carl Ikeme is now third choice.
Furthermore, Ezenwa appeared a bit rusty during the team’s training session, no thanks to the fact that he has been out injured for a while unlike Uzoho who has stayed fit since the start of the year, and has played in over ten games for the B team of Deportivo La Coruna, who are campaigning in the third division in Spain.
Osas Mahawi
