Goalkeeper Francis Uzoho has expressed his excitement with his recall to the Super Eagles squad and says he is ready to represent the country at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, Bold Sports reports.
Uzoho was the first to arrive to arrive at the team’s camp in Cairo, Egypt. He was later joined by Stanley Nwabali, Ademola Lookman, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu, Amas Obasogie and newly invited Tochukwu Nnadi.
The 27-year-old last featured for the Super Eagles at the 2023 AFCON, replacing Nwabali for the last 10 minutes of the Round of 16 tie against Cameroon.
“I missed the boys to be honest, I missed the vibe in the camp,” Uzoho said on his return to the team. “We chat, check up on each other. I have my own colleagues that I’m quite closer to, but in general, I do reach out to the boys.”
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The shot-stopper shared how he felt when he made Chelle’s final 28-man squad for the AFCON: “I was filled with joy. A joy that I cannot express right now. It was reliving to know that I’m coming back again to be with the boys, to have that same feeling that we had before, and to represent Nigeria which is the most important thing.”
Uzoho may be in goal for the first few games of the AFCON with Nwabali struggling with hand and ankle injuries. The Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper believes he is ready to step up if needed.
“I think anybody called up into their national team is ready. If you’re not ready you won’t be called up. The technical crew, the scouts, they know what they’re doing. For them to call somebody up, they know the person is ready to represent the country.”
“Basically I am ready and if the time comes and the country needs me, I’ll be ready.”
Uzoho also spoke on his relationship with the two other invited goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Amas Obasogie: “I think I was with Amas twice in the national team before I stopped coming. He’s a good lad, we were close. I’m close to everybody, Stanley is my brother. When he came, we were all together, we helped each other. He’s a good guy who I have a very close relationship with. Maybe the people outside don’t see it, but personally I’m good with him and Amas.”
Nigeria are drawn in Group C of the AFCON alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. The Super Eagles will open their campaign against Tanzania at the Fez Stadium on December 23.
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