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Francis Uzoho Set to Start for Nigeria as Maduka Okoye Suffers Injury Before Jordan Friendly

Posted : 31 March 2026

Francis Uzoho is expected to reclaim his spot in the Super Eagles' starting lineup for today’s international friendly against Jordan. The match will take place at the Corendon Airlines Park in Antalya, Turkey. Uzoho steps in following a late injury blow to Udinese shot-stopper Maduka Okoye.

Okoye sustained a thigh injury during a final training session with the national team on Monday. Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe confirmed the goalkeeper has been ruled out of the clash. The 26-year-old has already departed the camp to return to Italy for further medical assessment with his club side.

The absence of Okoye leaves head coach Éric Chelle with a choice between Uzoho and Adebayo Adeleye. However, camp sources indicate that Uzoho is the preferred option due to his extensive international experience. The 27-year-old goalkeeper currently has 36 caps for the three-time African champions and served as the second-choice keeper during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria enters this fixture in high spirits after securing a 2-1 victory over Iran last Friday. Goals from Moses Simon and Akor Adams ensured the Super Eagles maintained their unbeaten run under Chelle's leadership. The team currently remains undefeated in 19 matches since the Malian tactician took charge of the squad.

Despite the positive form, the squad has been thinned by several high-profile departures recently. Defender Semi Ajayi and Bruno Onyemaechi have both left the camp due to personal and physical reasons. Zaidu Sanusi and Igoh Ogbu are expected to fill the gaps in a reshuffled defensive line against the Jordanians.

Jordan arrives at this fixture as a formidable opponent after recent victories over regional giants like Saudi Arabia and Iraq. They are currently ranked 64th in the world and have shown significant progress under their current technical setup. This match serves as a crucial test for Nigeria as they fine-tune their tactics ahead of upcoming competitive qualifiers.

 

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