W’Cup qualifiers: Okoye pulls out, Peseiro invites Obasogie

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye has pulled out of the Super Eagles 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe, making way for Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, The PUNCH reports.

The Super Eagles camp opened on Monday for the first two games of the qualifying series but news of the goalkeeper’s withdrawal greeted the early arrival of players to their base in Uyo. Okoye was recently invited to the national team for the Super Eagles friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique last month.

Insurance keeper, Obasogie, also confirmed his invitation to our correspondent adding that he will team up with the rest of the squad on Tuesday (today).

“Yes, I got the news from our team secretary on Monday night,” Obasogie told our correspondent.

He joins Enyimba goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke as the second NPFL player in the squad.

Meanwhile, Real Sociedad striker, Sadiq Umar, Kenneth Omeruo and Jamilu Collins are among the early call-ups to hit the Super Eagles training camp in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state on Monday.

The Eagles will begin their quest to qualify for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday when they welcome Lesotho at the Godswill Akpabio stadium 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.

More players are expected to join up with the squad later on Tuesday (today).

Speaking ahead of the game, Umar said, “…Whenever I’m here to play for the Eagles, I’m always motivated to play for the country and I think when other players also come it is the same. We will be ready for the game.”

On the competition for a place in the Eagles star-studded attack, the former Almeria striker added, “Whenever we are here in the team, we are always happy to represent the country whether you start, you have some minutes or you are on the bench. Always ready to keep supporting the Eagles and we hope to come out with a good result.”

Collins on his part also said, “So far, it has been good to be in the camp atmosphere, I’m excited to be here.

“There’s no competition in the national team. We just have to come here and give our best for our nation and whoever is called to play should give his best. We are here to make our country proud.”

The Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has already arrived at the Eagles camp in Uyo alongside his foreign assistants Maykel Moreira, Acacio Santos and Vitor Hugo.

Meanwhile, the Eagles have been dealt a new injury blow after the trio Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi and Samuel Chukwueze will miss the forthcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Portugal-based defender Bruno Onyemaechi is the latest player who could also miss the World Cup qualifiers due to injury.

The left-back was forced out by injury from Boavista’s 3-1 home loss to his former club Farense at the weekend and it is now left to be seen the extent of the
injury.