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Sam Sodje urges Francis Uzoho to be consistent after Manchester United superb display
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Former Nigeria international, Sam Sodje has tasked Omonia Nicosia and Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho on ‘consistency’ following his breathtaking heriocs against Manchester United on Thursday.
Uzoho made a total number of 12 saves for Omonia during his team’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the group stage of the 2022/2023 UEFA Europa League and the former Super Eagles man urged him to be consistent with his form to become Nigeria’s number-one goalkeeper.
“His performance against Manchester United showed that he is a very good goalkeeper,” said Sam Sodje in a monitored interview by nigeriafootball.ng on Brila FM this week.
“In football, consistency is very important. He is not where he is right now because he isn’t a good goalkeeper but he has to be consistent with his performance.”
Francis Uzoho’s saves almost denied Manchester United a win but a late goal from Scot McTominay in the additional minutes of the second half breached Uzoho and Omonia’s defence.
Scot McTominay pounced on a loose ball inside the box and beats Uzoho with a low shot into the middle of the net.
United were straight into the attack in the opening embers of the game, forcing Uzoho into a spectacular early save to deny Marcus Rashford.
They continued to press for an opener, but Uzoho was on hand to smoother Rashford again after Omonia surrendered the ball in the final third.
In what was turning out to be a very testing return to Manchester for Omonia, 14 years after the club’s maiden visit ended in a 2-1 loss to Manchester City, Uzoho continued to be a one-man army.
The shot-stopper remained busy and denied Rashford for a third time, getting fingertips to an effort that was destined for the bottom corner – but it was his last save of the half that proved to be his best, with the Nigerian tipping a long-range Casemiro effort onto the bar.
Within 25 seconds of the restart, United spurned further chances to break the deadlock as Uzoho denied Antony before brilliantly scrambling across his goal to deny Rashford on the rebound.
Ronaldo and Fernandes also spurned golden opportunities before late substitute Scot McTominay was denied by Uzoho shortly after coming on. The breakthrough only came for United in the 93 minutes through McTominay.
