The decision of coach Gernot Rohr to name goalkeeper Francis Odinaka Uzoho as first choice goalkeeper of the senior national team of Nigeria has been backed by captain of the team John Obi Mikel.
Uzoho has played just six international games for Nigeria, and at relegated LaLiga side Deportivo La Coruna he has just four first team appearances to his name but he is first choice for the B team who are in the third division.
He is the youngest player in the Nigerian team for the World Cup at the age of 19 but Mikel believe he has shown enough to prove that he won’t be out of sort if named in the starting line up against Croatia.
Mikel also pointed out the qualities which handed Uzoho an edge over other goalkeepers while speaking at the pre match conference organised ahead of today’s game against Croatia in Kaliningrad.
“He (Uzoho) is young but the good thing about him is that he always calm even under pressure,” the Tiajin Teda of China star replied when asked about the readiness of the former youth international for the game on Saturday.
“I speak to him a lot during games, but it is important to allow him do his job too. He r exactly what he is doing and we don’t have to distract him with too much talks.
“I hope he will have a good tournament, same for the team too.”
Osas Mahawi
