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By Johnny Edward.
Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho, is currently Nigeria’s best shot stopper in Europe this season, according to statistics website Tranfermarkt.
The Nigerian has kept more clean sheets than any of his compatriots in Europe this season.
The in-form Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper has kept eight clean sheets in 15 games, conceding 14 goals so far this term – the best return so far among the top Nigerian goalkeepers in Europe.
The 24-year-old’s contract with Omonia ends at the end of this season, with the player open to a potential exit amid reports Ligue 1 club Stade Reims interested in his services.
Hapoel Jerusalem goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye is the second-rated Nigerian keeper in Europe after keeping six clean sheet in 15 games this season, conceding 16 goals, while Sebastien Osigwe is third in the ranking, having kept two clean sheets from three games so far this term for Lugano.
Maduka Okoye is ranked fourth as he is yet to keep a clean sheet for Watford after two games this term.
Okoye has fallen out of favour for both club and country. For the Eagles, he is behind Uzoho in the pecking order and in Watford, the 23-year-old has struggled for minutes finding the more experienced Austria international Daniel Bachmann more favoured by the Hornets backroom.
Okoye, who is open to a move away from Vicarage Road, has also been linked with a return to the Dutch Eredivisie.
“We’ll see what happens. My contract runs until 2027, so anything is possible. Maybe I will be rented out, or not, I don’t know yet,” Okoye told Voetbal Primeur.
“The Eredivisie? Yes, that sounds like something to me. The clubs in the Netherlands know me well from Sparta and know what they can do with me. We’ll see. For now I’m just focusing completely on Watford and the games we’re going to play.”
Meanwhile, Eagles goalkeeper trainer, Ike Shorunmu, is pleased with the form of the goalies in Europe and has urged them not to take their foot off the burner.
“The goalkeepers are doing well and I can only say that this form will make competition for places in the Eagles more competitive when they stay in form. The AFCON qualifiers are around the corner and I hope they maintain this form,” Shorunmu said.