Former Nigeria international and ex-Everton forward Yakubu Aiyegbeni has expressed strong reservations about Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle’s decision to invite Tanzania-based goalkeeper Amas Obasogie for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and playoffs.
Obasogie, who plays for Singida SC, received as many as eight national team call-ups under Chelle, yet he has not made a single appearance for the senior Nigerian team. Despite being consistently included in the squad list, the goalkeeper did not feature in any of the qualifiers or playoff matches.
Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, Yakubu questioned the rationale behind selecting a goalkeeper playing in the Tanzanian league when several capable options are available in the Nigerian domestic league.
He said:
“Historically, the coaches put in one or two home-based players.
“You [Chelle] brought in a goalkeeper from Tanzania, Amas Obasogie. we’ve keepers here. Did you watch him in goal before?
“He has not watched him. Why not bring one keeper here to give him experience?”
Yakubu further argued that Obasogie’s selection appears unjustified considering that he sits low in Chelle’s goalkeeping hierarchy, suggesting that the technical crew could have used the opportunity to expose a local goalkeeper to international football.
The former striker’s comments have reignited discussions around Super Eagles squad selection, the assessment of home-based talent, and the technical direction of Nigeria’s national team as preparations intensify for upcoming international competitions.
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