As Nigeria get set to round up their campaign in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, the one area that has given the coaches a lot to ponder about is the goalkepping department with first choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho suspended.
Nigeria will take on Sierra Leone away in Freetown before engaging Sao Tome and Principe in Abuja. They need just three points from both games to seal a spot at next year Africa Cup of Nations.
In the build up to the game, head coach of the team Jose Peseiro is facing a crisis in goal with Uzoho’s suspension coming at a time when former first choice Maduka Okoye is not having the best of times, owing to a lack of playing time at English Championship side Watford. He is currently recovering from injury after surgery on his shoulder.
It means the duo of Victor Sochima and Chijioke Anigboso who were named as back up to Uzoho for the back to back games against Guinea Bissau are the options left for the manager. However Adebayo Adeleye’s form in Israel for Hapoel Jerusalem has got people wondering why he is not in the picture for his first competitive cap for Nigeria.
His fine form has already earned him a fresh three years deal at the club but back home, he isn’t seen as one who can effectively solve the crisis the team is having in goal and a member of the technical crew explained the reason behind it.
” He is a very good goalkeeper when it comes to reflexes but his handling is suspect and he flaps at crosses. His height isn’t that much a problem but the coaches are concerned about his handling and ability to judge and claim crosses. It was highlighted during the friendly game against the B team of Algeria. He is still in the picture though”, he told OGN on the condition of anonymity.
