Nigeria are set to be without first choice goalkeeper Francis Uzoho when they face South Africa in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier this month after his Spanish club Elche confirmed that he will be out for four weeks.
Uzoho who turned 20 last month has found some stability at club level within the last month until Sunday when he conceded five goals in his side’s 5-1 rout in the hands of Cadiz. He lasted the entire duration of the match but was diagnosed with a rib injury later on.
The goalkeeper was then taken for scans on the injury at the club’s Medical Center on Monday afternoon.
“The footballer Francis Uzoho has undergone radiology tests at the Tesla Clinic today which determines that the player has a fracture of the seventh costal arch after the blow suffered yesterday at the Ramón de Carranza stadium.
“The estimated time of absence is four weeks with the medical part offered by the Medical Services of Elche CF,” read a statement on the club’s website.
The former Deportivo La Coruna starlet will now miss Nigeria’s all important clash with South Africa at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on November 17. The twelve-cap goalkeeper also confirmed the news on his personal Twitter handle.
The news of his injury will be a major source of worry for Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr who will now be left with the less-trusted duo of Ikechukwu Ezenwa and South Africa based Daniel Akpeyi for the game. It remains to be seen if Rohr will call up a replacement for Uzoho.
