Super Eagles legend Segun ‘Mathematical’ Odegbami join calls for the exclusion of goalkeeper Francis Uzoho from the national team for the 2023 AFCON npflupdates.com reports.
According to Odegbami, Peseiro’s choice of goalkeepers is something to be worried about, especially now that the 2023 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) is around the corner.
Also read: Peseiro : MY First Ambition Is To Win The 2023 AFCON For Nigeria
The 1980 AFCON winner, explained that Uzoho needs a break from the national team. Especially now that he’s gotten a lot of disapproval from fans and supporters.
Seguna odegbami talks about inclusion of Francis Uzoho in Super Eagles 2023 AFCON squad
“I don’t know what is with Peseiro and his choice of goalkeepers. I really don’t know,” said Odegbami in a radio interview monitored by SCORE Nigeria.
Odegbami, highlighted that performances of Uzoho during training cannot isn’t enough, as the former Golden Eaglets shot-stopper kept leaking goals game after game.
“It doesn’t matter how well he (Uzoho) does in training, but we have seen from game to game that just one mistake when the goalkeeper is expected to save you from a difficult situation, but when such a situation comes, he falters,” he continued.
“Somebody else should have been given a chance and at this point, he should have been rested because psychologically he cannot play at his best because everybody is asking he should be left out of the team.
“I will be shocked if he is played in Cote d’Ivoire.”
He added, “And if they play him, then my expectations (of Nigeria winning the tournament) will be lowered.”
Uzoho is currently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) camp of the Super Eagles. The three-time African champions will hope to win a fourth title in Ivory Coast.
In a related story, the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, has denied reports it pegged Super Eagles AFCON squad to 25(players).
Speculations spread that the NFF is behind the 25-man squad-size; a size it maintained as a way of cutting cost.
Also read: Super Eagles : Top 10 Most Popular Players Of All Time And Their Career Achievements
Reacting, Gusau said, “We were supposed to name a 23 man squad then CAF later said we can increase the number to 25 or 27 but we will cater for the extra players in the team. At that stage it’s not in the power of the NFF to make a decision so we reached out to the coach and he said he is okay with 25 players because it’s easy for him to manage. That was how we arrived at the number of players for the tournament.”
