England-based 18-year-old Goodman may end Nigeria’s goalkeeping nightmare

Nigeria’s goalkeeping challenge may soon be over with the emergence of English- born and Canada-raised Owen Olamidayo Goodman.

The 18-year-old Crystal Palace player, who rose from the club’s academy, has been described as a reliable goalkeeper for Paddy McCarthy’s U-18 Crystal Palace side.

Goodman’s performances have seen him graduate from the academy to the club’s main team in the current 2022/23 season.

The goalkeeper is a man gifted with choice when it comes to international football career. He was born in Canada to a Nigerian mother and British father. This means he can represent Canada, Nigeria and England for his international career. That makes him a young goalkeeper with options available to him.

“Whoever calls me first, I will honour the invite,” he said.

When pushed further on the possibility of Nigeria, Owen gave an emphatic answer: “I will be glad to play for my country (Nigeria) if I get the opportunity, I will grab it.”

An athletic, imposing goalkeeper raised in Canada, Goodman has stepped up to the top academy level between the sticks and even competed with the first-team in summer 2022’s pre-season.

Internationally, he has been recognised by England U-18s.

Goodman made 19 league appearances for the U-18s during the 2021/22 campaign, keeping six clean sheets as Rob Quinn’s side finished third in the U-18 Premier League South.

The following campaign, he began to train regularly with the first team and featured in the pre-season sides against Gillingham and Ipswich Town.

His performances in early 2022/23 earned him a place on the first team bench against Wolverhampton Wanderers in October 2022.

With the Super Eagles challenge in the goalkeeping department, Goodman may turn out to be the solution, considering his age.

F