Nigerian Keeper Makes Spanish League History

Former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, had a remarkable start for Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday after keeping a 0-0 clean sheet draw at Eibar with four crucial saves to his name. Uzoho, who is the youngest foreign goalkeeper to ever play in the Spanish flight at 18 years 11 months and 17 days, arrived at the club from Qatar’s Aspire Academy in January. Uzoho was grateful for the opportunity given him ahead of experienced Costel Pantilimon by Deportivo boss Pepe Mel to debut for the team after regular first-choice goalkeeper, Ruben, had suffered a finger injury had this to say; “A day that will never disappear from my memory – my debut – thanks all for the support” Pepe Mel also had this to say “A coach has to act according to the things he sees in training, he is only 18 and he can barely speak Spanish but I know what he can offer this club.” Uzoho is the youngest player to feature for La Liga this season behind Real Madrid’s Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi at 18 years 10 months 27 days, who made his debut for the team earlier this month. Former Nigerian goalie Peter Rufai who has made two World Cup appearances and won the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria also played for the Spanish league club, Deportivo, between the years 1997 and 1999. Uzoho who was a part of Nigeria’s victorious squad at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates 4 years ago, but did not get a single minute of play is hopeful that he has done enough to make a second appearance for the club when they host Girona next week.

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This article was first published on 18th October 2017

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