Uzoho eyes ninth clean sheet in Kumasi

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, will be hoping to keep his ninth clean sheet when Nigeria faces Ghana in the first leg of their Qatar 2022 World Cup final play-off on Friday at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

The 23-year-old Omonia Nicosia keeper is in line to man the posts for the Eagles after first choice Maduka Okoye pulled out of the play-off on Tuesday after contracting COVID-19.

Uzoho, who made his Nigeria debut for the country against Argentina in a 4-2 win in 2017, was Eagles first choice at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, but a lengthy back injury forced him to second place following the arrival of Okoye.

Since making his debut for the national team in 2019, Okoye has displaced both Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi to second and third choices respectively.

Uzoho has 19 appearances for the Eagles and has kept eight clean sheets, conceding 17 goals in 1,637 minutes.

PUNCH/Nnenna.O