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How Nigeria Goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho Was Converted From A Striker To A Goalkeeper

 

 

Francis Uzoho represented Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. He was an immediate backup to Dele Alampasu.

Uzoho began to play football on the street with his friends at a very young age. He never took football seriously until he was 13.

At first, Uzoho played as a striker, but when he was 12 years old, his coach told him that he is very tall (1.96m) and extremely slow, so he should try out as a goalkeeper.

Uzoho heeded his coach’s advice and started playing as a goalkeeper. Being a fast learner, in two years, Uzoho was able to adapt.

 

 

Uzoho who was a fast learner, got recruited from a group of 50 by an Aspire agent into the Senegal branch of the Aspire Academy in 2013 at the age of 14 to do a test in Qatar.

Surprisingly, that is how Uzoho was converted from being a striker to a goalkeeper.

Uzoho will later join Deportivo de La Coruña’s Juvenil squad in 2016, after establishing himself in a tournament in Barcelona.

The 23-year-old who believes that playing as a striker has helped him manage better with his foot, misses playing upfront.

He currently plays for Omonia in the Cypriot top-flight division.

 

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