2026FIFAWCQ: Amas Obasogie – A Well Deserved Call Up to the Super Eagles

“If one person own no spoil, another person own no fit good” The local proverb has just come to pass in the life of Amas Obasogie.

Late last night while every football fan in the country were expecting the arrival of the invited Super Eagles players for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, NPFL fans were thrown into unexpected jubilation after it was announced that Bendel Insurance Amas Obasogie had been called up to the camp.

The surprise and sudden invitation of the shot stopper was because estranged Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye had pulled out of the squad. Reasons were not given.

Quick update from the camp #soarsupereagles #letsdoitagain #fifawcq pic.twitter.com/GCNDWMSwol

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 13, 2023

Apart from finally having the opportunity to serve his country, Obasogie’s invitation is more than deserved. His performance in the last two seasons of the NPFL had proven that he was ready for the task.

Amas Obasogie: The man with the qualities

Amas until his invitation had played every game available for Bendel Insurance since promotion to the NPFL in 2022. He has been the leader of the Benin Arsenal from the back and has been the saviour of the teams on different occasions.

in the 2022/2023 NPFL season, Amas was instrumental to the success – going unbeaten in the regular season and winning the Federation Cup – of Bendel Insurance with his shot stopping.  He had the second highest clean sheets in the season -9; only two behind Kayode Bankole.

Most clean sheets in the 22/23 NPFL

1️⃣1️⃣ – Kayode Bankole (REM)
0️⃣9️⃣ – Amas Obasogie (BEN)
0️⃣8️⃣ – Jean Efala (AKW)
0️⃣8️⃣ – Emmanuel Daniel (LOB)#NPFL23TOTS

— Opta Nigeria (@OptaNGR) July 22, 2023

In the CAF Confederation Cup, he was the hero for the Benin Gunners as he saved a penalty to ensure the team reached the second round of qualification.

Already in the 2024 NPFL season, Amas has racked up the numbers with 6 clean sheets in 7 games bringing his total number to 15 clean sheets in 30 league games. Amas is also the leader of the best defense in the NPFL this season. Bendel Insurance have only conceded just a goal in 7 games.

NPFL fans calls, finally answered

After the howlers from Francis Uzoho in the friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in October, NPFL fans had been calling for the inclusion of NPFL goalkeepers in the Super Eagles.

@thenff @NGSuperEagles @JosePeseiro these three goalies
–@Amasobasogie1
–@KingdomOsayi_33
Christian nwoke

Are far better goal keeper than that okobo you have in goal for the national team. https://t.co/1K390ezUvM pic.twitter.com/2kqAskRTow

— AtalakpaOfBenin👑🐅 (@IamEdison1) October 16, 2023

Among the goalkeepers many agitated for, Amas has finally been called up to the squad.

NPFL Goalkeepers in the Super Eagles

The last time we had two NPFL goalkeepers in the Super Eagles was June 2023. Super Eagles gaffer, Jose Peseiro had invited Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo and Rivers United’s Victor Sochima for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers game against Sierra Leone.

Although both shot stoppers did not get playing time as Adebayo Adeleye was preferred.

We might be having the same scenes play out in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as pending any last minute change, Francis Uzoho will be the preferred goal keeper for both games against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Amas will team up with his new teammates in Uyo on Tuesday as they prepare for the Lesotho game to be played on Thursday.