WCQ: Ghana ‘Lick Lips’ Over Nigeria’s Goalkeeper Woes

22-year-old Eagles’ first-choice goal-guard Maduka okoye is down and out of the double confrontation pitting Nigeria against Ghana.

He has been replaced by
John Noble Barinyima, keeper for Enyimba FC.

Augustine Eguavoen and his technical team will have to do with; Francis Uzoho, Daniel Akpeyi or newcomer, John Noble.

Uzoho has been limited to a handful of appearances for club-side Omonia Nikosa this season. Despite Uzoho’s 18 caps with the Super Eagles, throwing him in a crucial clash like that against Ghana, could be worrying.

Just like Uzoho, lack of game time with the Eagles is a worry for Chiefs man Daniel Akpeyi. The last time the goalie played for the Super Eagles was in 2019 against Sierra Leone.

Enyimba keeper John Noble surely just comes in to make up the numbers, as the competition will be between Uzoho and Akpeyi.

Even with Okoye’s presence between the sticks, fans of the Super Eagles rarely found him convincing.

At the AFCON, a 46th-minute strike from outside the area by Youssef Msakni was enough to take the North African side to the quarterfinal while Nigeria exited the tournament.

The Carthage Eagles defeated Nigeria 1-0 to progress to the quarter-finals after Youssef Msakni’s long-range effort blasted past Maduka Okoye in goal with the Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper caught napping. Fans poured rage on the young goalie, afterwards.

Coach Addo will be looking up to the likes of; Issahaku, Joseph Paintsil, Osman Bukari and Yaw Yeboah to fire in shots and crosses across the ‘D’ on March 25, as it could be Ghana’s best route for goals.