Going into this year’s World Cup, the Super Eagles of Nigeria was arguably the most talked about African team. With a fairly balanced squad and a highly impressive record during the qualifiers topped up with an unexpected victory over Argentina in a pre-World Cup friendly, expectations were very high.
However, things did not really get off to a good start with a defeat against Croatia in their opening match in the group stages. Set to face Iceland later on in the day in their second game, nothing less than a win is needed to salvage their chances of making it to the knockout stages.
One of the Super Eagles players trending for all the right and maybe wrong reasons is their first choice 19-year old goalkeeper Francis Uzoho. So for the right reasons, he made history by becoming the youngest goalkeeper to ever play at the World Cup (congrats!).
19-year-old Nigeria Goalkeeper, Francis Uzoho has become the youngest Goalkeeper to play at the #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/6wYcWTlRpL
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) June 16, 2018
Well…for the wrong reasons, people are actually questioning his age. Some do not believe he is actually 19-years old and feel he’s a bit older. Others, however, took issue with the trolling and expressed their support for him. Take a look at some reactions on Twitter over his age and share with us your thoughts on this.
Francis Uzoho is the oldest 19 year I have ever seen in my life ???
— Ebenezer A. Frimpong ?? (@EbeFrimpong) June 16, 2018
Some nigerians will gladly believe that Mbappe is 19 years old but will cast doubts on their goal keeper, Francis Uzoho.
— Davidson™ (@Dahveydson) June 21, 2018
Watching news and they were giving super eagles update showed the eagles training and francis uzoho our 19 year old keeper and my mom asked if he was one of the coaches pic.twitter.com/HHVOdJTfJe
— Israel ???? (@KingIsraeI) June 19, 2018
When the commentator said Francis Uzoho is the first teenage goalkeeper, since……
Me:#WorldCup #CRONGA #Nigeria_vs_Croatia pic.twitter.com/qkaEqaYdoc
— Kayceeubah ? (@Kayceeubah34) June 16, 2018
Left is Nigerian keeper #francisuzoho and Right is my Younger brother who Happens to be his Age mate 19..Bros you no go make heaven,you wey fit born my brother.. #CRONGA #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/CTohrMBWCc
— El Chapo (@ITS_GIDEON) June 16, 2018
So Francis Uzoho is 19 but his child will write WAEC next year?
Don’t we serve a living God.
— Dee A. ??? (@AchDoz_) June 16, 2018
Commentator: Francis Uzoho the first teenage keeper in the world cup.
My chest is hurting pic.twitter.com/pUV1pOXr8c
— Dear Sir, (@brnks4real) June 16, 2018
Please don’t say this again before someone decides to investigate this matter! pic.twitter.com/qGS78uobHB
— Es (@slkie) June 16, 2018
must be 19Bc pic.twitter.com/nobHUAvKkF
— ♔KING™ (@Abdulrahmanbs1) June 16, 2018
To all you muppets going on about Francis Uzoho’s age, this is what he looked like in 2013 when he was a 14-year-old in the under 17 camp. Feel free to slap some sense into your own heads since looks is now a determinant for age #Team9jaStrong #SoarSuper… https://t.co/f4yU0WSmeK pic.twitter.com/B10YA356ji
— Colin NOT Collins (@ColinUdoh) June 19, 2018
Wishing the Super Eagles the very best of luck today though! Make Africa proud!!