Peseiro invites Crystal Palace teenage goalkeeper Owen Goodman to camp for Portugal friendly

SUPER Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro has invited Crystal Palace's teenage goalkeeper Owen Goodman to camp for Nigeria's forthcoming friendly game against Portugal due to take place on November 17.

Next month, the Super Eagles will be play Portugal's national team in what will be the first ever clash between the two nations at the Estadio De Jose Alvalade in Lisbon. Portugal has been drawn in the same group as Nigeria’s arch rivals Ghana, who stopped the Super Eagles from qualifying for the World Cup, so they want to use the match to try themselves against African opposition.

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 has been 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. Following his promotion to the Palace senior squad, Goodman revealed that he would play for Nigeria if invited to the Super eagles squad.

With the Portugal game looming, Mr Peseiro has invited Goodman to camp, where he will compete for the number one shirt with Francis Uzoho and Nduka Okoye. Both goalkeepers have cost Nigeria dear in the past, prompting calls for the calling up of fresh talent and it appears that the new Nigerian Football Federation president Ibrahim Gusau has used his influence to bet Goodman invited to camp.

Having already played for the England U18 team, Goodman will, however, need to go through a switch with global footballing body Fifa before he is eligible to represent Nigeria. In July last year, Goodman signed his first professional contract with Palace and is seen as a youngster with a lot of potential.