The 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is already shaping up to be a firecracker following the revelation of the final group stages during the tournament draw ceremony which took place at the Parc Des Expositions venue in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.
With a couple of interesting matches sure to be coming down the pike, great expectations weigh heavily on the Super Eagles to dominate the tournament and claim the trophy for the first time in a decade, in spite of the recent underwhelming performances of the senior team.
A number of friendlies were already scheduled to take place in the build-up to the tournament next year, and thus far serious doubts concerning the boys’ capacity to deliver continue to persist. In what was expected to be a convincing victory for the African giants last Friday, 24-year-old Nigerian goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho ridiculously fumbled trying to stop a free kick at the half-hour mark allowing opponents Saudi Arabia to open up the score line. The Eagles managed to return from a goal behind and even sustained a 2-1 lead before another howler from Uzoho sabotaged an imminent Eagles win and prompted the contest back to a tie in literally the last minute of the game. Needless to say, the fans were far from pleased with the results.
Three days after the travesty with Saudi Arabia, next on the checklist was Mozambique, who on paper, should have been a cheap win for the Eagles. The game of course was anything but cheap as the Eagles struggled against the Mambas, conceding two careless goals in the process, one of which emanated from a free kick making it the third time in two games that Uzoho had failed to stop shots from a set piece. Concluding the game with a 3-2 victory did not stop concerned fans from angrily calling out the elephant in the room; Nigeria’s goalkeeping problem.
Francis Uzoho has been identified by most international soccer fans as the weakest link in the present Super Eagles line-up. His competence as a goalkeeper has been the subject of much debate especially following the fateful World Cup qualifying match last year against popular rivals Ghana where Nigeria failed to secure a spot in the main tournament.
Before Uzoho’s international debut, the Super Eagles had previously boasted a decent catalogue of highly valued starting goalkeepers ranging from Peter Rufai to Ike Shorunmu between the poles. Vincent Enyeama, whose international footballing career lasted between 2002 and 2015, is considered by most football enthusiasts to be the greatest Nigerian goalkeeper of the 21st century.
Probably the last goalkeeper generally considered to be a fantastic ball-stopper was Carl Ikeme who retired in 2018. Ever since then, Nigeria’s goalkeeping department has toiled in vain to find suitable replacements that would live up to the standards of the previous greats.
The performance of the Super Eagles in their two most recent games has understandably irritated passionate supporters of the team, and a heavy chunk of the criticisms have been targeted towards Francis Uzoho who most supporters have vehemently insisted is actually a liability to the team. Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro however came to Uzoho’s defense pointing out that the pressure on goalkeepers from Eagles supporters was excessive. He asserted that all members of the team should be held accountable for their performances in equal measure, rather than focus all criticisms on a selected few players.
As the weeks go by, bringing the tournament closer to its official launch in January 2024, the need for the Super Eagles to be in top form could not be more emphasized. Most supporters have suggested that Peseiro conducts an intensive search for decent goalkeepers, even if it means scouting from the local leagues.
However, it is also important to consider the amount of time needed to embark on such projects when the tournament is just around the corner. In light of this current state of affairs, it is safe to say that the responsibility now fully rests on Portuguese-born Jose Peseiro to effectively guide and direct the boys available, utilizing their strengths and/or potentials to ensure an excellent outing come January next year.
