The head coach of the Nigeria Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro has invited Owen Goodman to the National team ahead of the International friendly against Portugal next month.
The 18-year-old Crystal Palace goalkeeper, will be in contention when the Super Eagles exchange tackles with the Portuguese national team in November.
Coach, Jose Peseiro, will now have to chose from Maduka, Uzoho and Owen as this invitation will help to strengthen the Nigerian goal, and further make the available goalies step up their game going forward.
Earlier this month, Goodman was promoted to the first team of English Premier League side Crystal Palace from their U21 squad by manager Patrick Viera. Goodman, 18, is eligible to represent Nigeria, Canada and England at international level and the Nigerian Football Federation will no doubt be watching his development closely.
In July last year, Goodman signed his first professional contract with Palace and since the start of the current season, he has established himself as Palace’s U21s number one goalkeeper, hence his promotion to the senior squad. Having represented England at youth level, Goodman now has to make a decision about who he represent as a senior at international level.
Goodman is reported to have said: “Whoever calls me first I will honour their invite. I will be glad to play for my country Nigeria and if I get the opportunity I will grab it.”
Having already played for the4 England U18 team, Goodman will, however, need to go through a switch with global footballing body Fifa before he is eligible to represent Nigeria. Nigeria currently had a chronic goalkeeping crisis as both of its two senior goalkeepers Francis Uzoho and Maduka Okoye are very accident prone.