Nigerian goalkeeper Francis Uzoho impressed with his saves at the 2024 AFCON

• Uzoho is a Nigerian professional footballer
• He was part of the Nigerian squad that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
• He played at the 2024 AFCON in a match between Equatorial Guinea

Francis Uzoho is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Cypriot division club Omonia and the Nigeria national team and recently played at the 2024 AFCON between Equatorial Guinea.

Born and raised in Nigeria, he began playing at the local fields to the grand stages of international competitions. His passion for football was evident from a young age and at about fifteen years, he secured a place with the prestigious Aspire Academy in Qatar, a breeding ground for young talent. 

His exceptional performances caught the attention of Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruna and he signed for their B team, Deportivo Fabril where his European adventure began. Soon after, he made his La Liga debut for the first team making him the youngest-ever Nigerian goalkeeper to play in the Spanish top division.

Despite his impressive debut at Deportivo, his time at the club was marked by loan spells to Elche and Omonia in Cyprus, experiences that allowed him to gain valuable playing time and develop of skills.

The 25-year-old then made a permanent move to Apoel Nicosia, another Cypriot club where he established himself as the best goalkeeper and helped the team achieve domestic success. Internationally, he is a mainstay for the Nigeria national team and his performance was evident at the  2019 Africa Cup of Nations where he played in all seven matches of the tournament. He recently returned to Nigeria where he is playing for Omonia Nicosia.

Francis Uzoho. Photo/Belfast Telegraph

The goalkeeper was a part of the Nigeria national team squad that played at the 2024 AFCON tournament match between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea when he started the game as the Super Eagles’ goalkeeper.

Francis Uzoho’s Early and Personal Life

Francis Odinaka Uzoho, Nigeria’s goalkeeper was born on October 28 1998 in Nwangele, Imo State, Nigeria to parents of the country’s descent. His early and personal life are testaments to the power of hard work and dedication.

From the humble beginnings in Umuahia to the international stage, his story is an inspiration to the upcoming footballers. He began playing locally and was enrolled at the Diamond Football Academy in Umuahia, his first step towards formal training and structured development.

The academy proved to be a turning point as he participated in various youth tournaments that earned him a place at the Aspire Academy in Qatar. His training in the academy allowed him to compete against international players.

The player participated in several tournaments among them, the 2015 FIFA  U-17 World Cup where his exceptional performance solidified his reputation as a rising star. He is a devout Christian and his faith plays a significant role in his life.

Francis Uzoho Career Journey

He began playing at the local fields to the grand stages of international competitions. His passion for football was evident from a young age and at about fifteen years, he secured a place with the prestigious Aspire Academy in Qatar. 

His exceptional performances caught the attention of Spanish giants Deportivo La Coruna and he signed for their B team, Deportivo Fabril where his European adventure began.

Despite his impressive debut at Deportivo, his time at the club was marked by loan spells to Elche and Omonia in Cyprus, experiences that allowed him to gain valuable playing time and develop of skills.

Francis Uzoho. Photo/NewsNow Nigeria

The player then made a permanent move to Apoel Nicosia, another Cypriot club where he established himself as the best goalkeeper and helped the team achieve domestic success. Internationally, he is a mainstay for the Nigeria national team and his performance was evident at the  2019 Africa Cup of Nations where he played in all seven matches of the tournament. He recently returned to Nigeria where he is playing for Omonia Nicosia.

Uzoho’s Participation at the 2024 AFCON

The goalkeeper recently played for the Nigeria national team at the 2024 AFCON tournaments between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea on January 14th 2024 where he started the game as the Super Eagles goalkeeper, and ended in a draw.