Francis Uzoho Names Manchester United Star Among Four Goalkeepers He Looks Up To

Published: May 01, 2020

In an interview with the Super Eagles Media Team via Instagram, Francis Uzoho has cited Manchester United star David de Gea among the four goalkeepers he looks up to.

Uzoho said he watches videos of de Gea, Nigeria's most capped player in history Vincent Enyeama, Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer and Atlético Madrid's shot-stopper Jan Oblak in order to be a better goalkeeper.

Seven years ago, Uzoho was third choice goalkeeper for the Golden Eaglets at the 2013 U17 World Cup but has made inroads in his career over the last two years considering that he is the most used goalkeeper in the national team since the appointment of Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles coach.

"I feel proud of my rise. I have had the opportunity to play with big players. A lot of these players I played on Playstation 1, 2, it’s hard to express my feelings, but I am very proud of what I have achieved so far," said Uzoho.

"The person that inspired me was Vincent Enyeama, the penalty period in the 2004 AFCON against Tunisia, I was proud of him, so the first person that I wanted to be like when I decided to be a keeper was him.

"In my head I said to myself if I can be this fast, I will have a shot at the top level. I watch his videos and pictures to analyse his movements and how quick he reacts.

"I also looked at keepers that were tall like me and watched and studied Manuel Neuer, he is also super-fast and strong, David De Gea, these are the three people. And recently its Jan Oblak. I watch their clips."

Uzoho was the youngest goalkeeper at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he went the distance in all the matches played by Nigeria in the group stage.

Igho Kingsley

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