Sports

Uzoho Apologises For Role In Nigeria’s Failed World Cup Dreams

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho has tendered an unreserved apology to Nigerian football fans for the failure of the team to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Uzoho was partly at fault for the away goal scored by Arsenal and Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey at the Moshood Abiola stadium, Abuja last week Tuesday in the 1-1 draw and has described the defeat as one of the worst incidents in his life.

A tame shot from the Ghana defensive midfielder at the edge of the Nigerian penalty box saw the ball squirm under the arms of Uzoho as Ghana went ahead in the game before the Eagles eventually equalised.

Uzoho curiously was in good form when both teams squared off in Kumasi in the first leg which ended scoreless.

“These past couple of days have been the worst in my lifetime,” Uzoho admitted in his Instagram post on Monday.

“I wanted to take my nation to Qatar but rather did the opposite. I know what football means to you all and to myself.

“I can’t promise not to make mistakes again but I can promise not to give up until I bring back that smile on your faces.

“Thank you for the support and God bless,” the Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper wrote.

Uzoho has made 18 appearances for Nigeria since making his debut in 2017, and was part of Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.