Francis Uzoho, the Super Eagles’ goalkeeper, has faced criticism for his recent performances, marred by costly errors in matches for Nigeria. Despite being the preferred choice in goal for the national team, the 25-year-old Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper failed to secure a nomination for the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) annual awards in the goalkeeper of the year category.
As CAF unveiled its list of nominees for the upcoming awards, Uzoho’s absence from the goalkeeper category was evident. The list included notable names like Yassine Bounou, a Europa League winner with Sevilla, who played a crucial role in Morocco’s historic journey to the FIFA World Cup semi-finals. Manchester United’s Andre Onana, known for his presence in the UEFA Champions League final, was also nominated but lost to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
Other prominent goalkeepers nominated for the award are Mohamed El Shenawy of Egypt, Edouard Mendy of Senegal, Oussama Benbot of Algeria, and Djigui Diarra of Mali. The absence of Uzoho in the nominations has prompted calls for the Nigerian Football Federation to intensify scouting efforts for goalkeepers, as repeated errors have cost the Super Eagles important tournament qualifications.
Uzoho will miss the opportunity to compete for the coveted CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award this year.
