Nigeria’s first choice goalkeeper Odinaka Francis Uzoho has joined Spanish second division side Elche on a season-long loan deal from Galician club Racing Club Deportivo La Coruna.
Uzoho who broke into the scene after joining Deportivo last summer from Qatar Academy, Aspire had a meteoric rise and was in goal for Nigeria’s Super Eagles for all of their World Cup games in Russia two months ago.
The 19-year old’s future at Deportivo has been in questioning after a public row with Sporting Director Carmelo Del Pozo which led to club President Tino Fernandez giving the young goalkeeper the green light to remain at the club.
However, with coach Natxo Gonzalez insisting that the Nigerian former Under-17 World Cup winner will remain as third choice at the Segunda Division side, Uzoho felt the need to move to another side, so as to have a chance of retaining his international status with the Super Eagles.
Uzoho has now joined Elche, also in the second division and will compete for the first choice position against a 39-year old goalkeeper, Jose Juan. The Imo state-born goalkeeper will join the rest of his teammates on Monday after he passed a medical on Friday.
Uzoho who has nine caps with Nigeria’s senior team was earlier on Friday named in Nigeria’s squad for next month’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Seychelles.
