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AFCON: Fans Express Concern Over Uzoho’s Common Mistakes

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Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho committed a howler in the Super Eagles friendly match against the Saudi Arabia’s Green Falcons at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão in Portugal which ended in a 2-2 draw and his performance has left fans with concerns as the AFCON tournament approaches.
Nigeria began the match on the front foot, with early chances from star players like Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze. However, they could not capitalise on these opportunities, and the game headed to halftime with a score of 0-0.
The turning point came in the 60th minute when Salam Al-Faraji scored a free kick for Saudi Arabia largely due to an attempted clearance from Uzoho who sent the ball into his own net.
In the 83rd minute, Nigeria managed to equalise as an own goal by Saudi defender ,Al Amri tied the game. Iheanacho then scored a powerful goal from outside the box in the 91st minute, putting Nigeria ahead. However, just when victory seemed within reach, the Super Eagles conceded another free kick on the edge of the box during added time as the strike from Mohamed Kanno deflected off Calvin Bassey and went the opposite direction of Uzoho’s dive.
Since the exit of Carl Ikeme, Nigeria’s goalkeeping department has been struggling to find a suitable replacement. South Africa-based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi was the target of severe criticisms on social media as the Super Eagles emerged third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in July.
Maduka Okoye, who was in goal when Nigeria lost to Tunisia in the last-16 of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, was hounded by Nigeria fans on social media with comments ranging from trolling over his looks to death wishes upon him and his loved ones.
Uzoho’s performance has come under scrutiny, especially considering that he conceded two free-kick goals in this match.
Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro defended Uzoho, suggesting that the goalkeepers were under tremendous pressure from fans. He pointed out the inconsistency in criticising goalkeepers while other players who make mistakes are not subjected to the same level of scrutiny.
“When I arrived here, I remember I was told to change the goalkeeper. I spoke with all of them. No one felt comfortable because everybody attacked them.
“I like our players, when they make mistakes, it is my responsibility. The goalkeepers never play free or calm because of the people. I don’t know why they attack the goalkeepers every time,” he said.
“Why don’t they attack the strikers when they lose the ball or miss a goal, why? They could make mistakes, it is my responsibility. Next time, I need to train him (Uzoho) better.”
Legendary Nigerian goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, expressed his bewilderment at Uzoho’s performance and the team’s selection in general saying, “I am also wondering how he could have conceded two free-kick goals.
“As fans though, if the coach and others who are responsible present a team for us and their selection proves wrong, they deserve to be questioned.”
Another ex-Nigerian goalkeeper Joseph Dosu was disappointed with Peseiro’s comments on Nigerians reactions to the goalkeeping errors.
“I am not sure I should say anything after what coach Peseiro has said after the game. He said Nigerians are the problem of his goalkeeping area so if he can say that, I leave his statement for them to decide on.
“If we have a national team and we cannot say one or two thinigs against our national team, that means we are not even in Nigeria anymore. For such performance, and the coach can come out and say Nigerians are the problem of our own national team, that means we are not allowed to talk anymore,” Dosu said.
Fans on social media also criticized Uzoho’s lack of regular playing time for his club and questioned the decision to field him in the match.
Journalist Ikenwa Nnabuogor wrote, “In the beautiful game, you leave regular competitive football for a day, it leaves you for a week. You can’t give what you don’t have; it’s no rocket science to know this. Francis Uzoho is bound for such a howler, he’s not playing regularly for his club, been out of the sticks in his club since 20 May 2023 and our dear good old Jose Peseiro hauled him into the game fantastically match rusty.”
A Nigerian, Godwin Antai compared Uzoho with United goalkeeper Andre Onana who is currently enduring a poor run writing, “Nigeria should have even won the game but Uzoho decided to turn Onana on the day.”
Yayah Lukman wrote that he feels the Nigerian captain Wilfried Ndidi wanted to slap Uzoho for the mistake that led to the first goal, “Ndidi reaction like make him slap uzoho aswear.”
Another Nigerian with the handle @oyimzy believes that Nigeria needs a new man between the sticks before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
“Three Months to the start of AFCON and I’m already having flashbacks of Ghana WC qualifier, if Super Eagles want to go far in Ivory Coast then we need to get a proper goalkeeper now. None of this Francis Uzoho nonsense!” he wrote.
Manchester United fans who remembered his heroic night where he made 12 saves against the Red Devils in a 1-0 win for United at Old Trafford in the Europa league last season took to social media to blast the goalkeeper.
That display led to the 24-year-old nominated for Europa League player of the week, with United ending up second in the group and forced to play two knock-out playoff fixtures by matter of a single goal.
One fan wrote, “I can’t believe that’s the same Francis Uzoho in goal for Super Eagles.”
“The same guy decided to become (Manuel) Neuer and force us to play 2 more games for no reason,” a second added.
A third wrote, “Only when he keeps against Man Utd you’d see a stellar performance from Uzoho… funny dude.”
As the AFCON tournament approached, it has become clear that the Super Eagles need to address their goalkeeping concerns. Prospects like Hapoel Jerusalem’s Adebayo Adeleye and LASK’s Tobias Lawal should be considered as potential solutions to bolster the goalkeeping department.
These concerns reflect the team’s need for stability and reliability in one of the most critical positions on the field.

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Tottenham Fight Back To Hold Brighton

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Tottenham fought back from two-goals down to secure a deserved point against Brighton.

The Seagulls were second best for much of the match but found themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes thanks to Yankuba Minteh’s early strike and Yasin Ayari’s powerful drive.

However, Richarlison halved the deficit just before half-time when he stopped a shot by Mohammed Kudus before slotting in.

Spurs dominated the second half but their finishing let them down as Richarlison and substitute Xavi Simons were both unable to make the most of promising opportunities.

But the equaliser came eight minutes from time when Jan Paul van Hecke turned Kudus’ cross into his own net.

Spurs then pushed for a winner as they looked to continue their impressive start to the season, but Brighton held on for the point.

Bundesliga: Kane Continues Goal Harvest (5)

Harry Kane scored his second hat-trick of the season as Bayern Munich overcame a shaky start to win at Hoffenheim and continue their 100% start.

The England captain, 32, broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a clinical first-time finish from a cleverly worked low corner, and doubled Bayern’s lead from the spot after Albian Hajdari was harshly penalised for a handball.

That broke Hoffenheim’s resistance and Kane completed his ninth Bundesliga hat-trick with another penalty, given for a foul on substitute Michael Olise after a video assistant referee (VAR) check.

This time Kane sent home keeper Oliver Baumann the wrong way for his 13th Bayern goal in seven matches across all competitions this season, adding to his Champions League double against Chelsea last Wednesday.

“Hat-trick Harry is what they called me in school,” Kane told Tidesports source after the match. “That one kind of stuck when I was younger.”

“Any ball in the box, whether penalty or not, I back myself to hit the target.”

Hoffenheim had the better of the first 45 minutes, Fisnik Asllani only able to hit the post after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer passed straight to the Kosovan.

They eventually got some reward for their efforts, former West Ham full-back Vladimir Coufal’s deflected free-kick beating Neuer to earn the Czech his first goal for the club.

Ex-Liverpool winger Luis Diaz hit the top of the bar late on as he failed to continue his record of scoring in every Bundesliga game this season, but Serge Gnabry added a fourth for Bayern with the last kick, converting a rebound from a tight angle after Baumann saved from Joshua Kimmich.

Nicolas Jackson made his first start since joining Bayern on an initial loan deal from Chelsea, but the Senegal striker had a very quiet game before being replaced in the 62nd minute.

In Italy, Lorenzo Pellegrini fired Roma into the Serie A top four as Lazio had two players sent off in a fiery derby.

The midfielder found the bottom corner in the 38th minute as Roma extended their unbeaten run to four games against their city rivals.

Lazio have lost three of their opening games of the season and had Reda Belahyane and former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi dismissed in late drama.

Roma started well and Rome-born Pellegrini claimed the vital goal – his fourth in a Rome derby after being available for transfer in the summer – following good work down the right by Matias Soule.

But the hosts will rue missed opportunities as Boulaye Dia, Mattia Zaccagni and Alessio Romagnoli all had openings.

With four minutes left substitute Belahyane was shown a red card for a late studs-up challenge on Manu Kone.

Danilo Cataldi struck the outside of the post for Lazio in a last-gasp effort to snatch a point, while team-mate Guendouzi was sent off for dissent after the final whistle.

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Zidane’s Son Switches Allegiance To Algeria

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Luca Zidane, the son of France’s World Cup-winning playmaker Zinedine, has switched his international allegiance from France to Algeria.

Born just outside Marseille, the 27-year-old goalkeeper had appeared for France at various youth levels.

The move, which was approved by Fifa, may enable Zidane to follow in his father’s footsteps by appearing at a World Cup, with Algeria expected to secure a place at the 2026 finals in North America in their qualifier against Somalia next month.

Zidane, who is the second of four brothers, all of whom came through the Real Madrid academy, currently plays for Spanish second tier side Granada.

He played two matches for Madrid and has La Liga experience at Rayo Vallecano, but dropped a level in 2022 to play for Eibar before heading to Andalusia in 2024.

Zidane qualifies for the North African country through his father, whose parents hailed from the Kabylie region of Algeria.

Zinedine Zidane, who is regarded as one of the games greatest players scored twice for France in their 1998 World Cup final victory over Brazil, but was famously sent-off in the 2006 final, which was won by Italy after a penalty shootout.

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Man Utd Beat Chelsea To Ease Pressure 

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Manchester United capitalised on Robert Sanchez’s fifth-minute red card to secure a crucial victory over Chelsea in torrential rain at Old Trafford.

The first match in Premier League history to see two or more goals, red cards and substitutions in the first half was settled by goals from United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, who was the other player sent off before the break.

It was Sanchez’s dismissal that set the course of the game though.

The Spain international raced from his goal to meet Bryan Mbeumo as the striker ran beyond the Chelsea defence.

Sanchez then upended the forward outside his area rather than allow him past to tap the ball into an empty net.

Enzo Maresca’s response to the red card was to take off both Pedro Neto and Estevao Willian and, as Cole Palmer had to be replaced after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury, Chelsea had lost three attacking players in the space of 20 minutes.

Trevor Chalobah pulled one back for Chelsea with a header 10 minutes from time but United kept their nerves at bay to make it to the final whistle with their lead intact.

The victory was United’s second of the season and came in front of minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who gave head coach Ruben Amorim assurances over his future 48 hours earlier.

It also means Chelsea have still not won at Old Trafford since 2013, when Sir Alex Ferguson was United manager.

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