Duro Ikhazuagbe
Bendel Insurance’s goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie, has joined Enyimba’s safe hands, Olorunleke Ojo as the only two players from the domestic Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in the list of 23 players invited by Super Eagles Head Coach, Jose Peseiro, to prosecute the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.
The 23-year-old Obasogie who has distinguished himself as one of the best goalkeepers from the domestic league replaced Maduka Okoye in Super Eagles’ squad for the double header starting first with the clash with Lesotho on Thursday in Uyo.
He was instrumental to Bendel Insurance’s Federation Cup success last season.
Obasogie also cut eye after saving two spot kicks in the Benin Arsenals’ CAF Confederation Cup win against ASO Chlef of Algeria in August.
He is expected to arrive the Super Eagles Four Points Hotel camp today from Benin City.
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.
All the others players are expected to troop into camp today minus 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 tomorrow 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.
