Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad goalkeeper’s department has been altered ahead 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
Head coach Jose Peseiro has called Bendel Insurance goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie to replace Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, in Super Eagles’ squad for the double header starting first with the clash with Lesotho on Thursday in Uyo.
The distinguished 23-year-old Obasogie, is one of the best goalkeepers from the domestic Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Maduka Okoye who personally withdraw from the squad was handed a first time call-up to the Super Eagles team for the upcoming competitive match. However, no reason has been given for his withdrawal from the senior national team.
Recall that Okoye one of the invited 23 players, who pulled out on Monday, only returned to the team during the last friendly game agaisnt Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
Obasogie is expected to storm the Super Eagles’ Four Points Hotel camp from Benin City on Tuesday. This is his first invitation to the national team.
He is currently rated as one of the best goalkeepers in the Nigerian Premier Football League.
The shot-stopper played a crucial role in Bendel Insurance’s Federation Cup success last season, Daily Post reports.
Obasogie also cut eye after saving two spot kicks in the Benin Arsenals’ CAF Confederation Cup win against ASO Chlef of Algeria in August.
Interestingly, Amas Obasogie and Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo are the only two players from the domestic Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in the list of 23 players invited by Jose Peseiro.
Meanwhile, Spain-based striker Sadiq Umar, Kenneth Omeruo from Turkish club Kasimpasa, as well as Jamilu Collins of Cardiff City are among the early birds to reach the Super Eagles training camp in Uyo, Thisdaylive reports.
All the others players are expected to troop into camp Tuesday, except the likes of Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Wilfred Ndidi, Bruno Onyemaechi and now Maduka Okoye.
While speaking with NFF Media inside the team’s camp, Omeruo enthused the resolve of the players not to drop points in this qualifiers starting on Thursday.
“We’ve played Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the past but the important thing is to stick to our game plan and take the game very serious because we have to win both games,” Omeruo said in the interview with NFF TV.
“We are looking forward to it, it’s an important one for us, we missed out at the last World Cup so this is a serious matter for us.
“We are here to do what we have to do to get the ticket for the next World Cup,” observed Omeruo who is the last from the 2013 AFCON winning Eagles. He has represented Nigeria at two World Cups in 2014 and 2018.
Eagles are expected to step up their preparations on Wednesday with media restricted access because of the short build-up to these qualifiers.
The Eagles will begin their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, when they welcome Lesotho, before they fly out to Rwanda to battle Zimbabwe in continuation of the qualifying campaign.
Thursday’s match will kick off by 5pm at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
