2026 World Cup qualifiers: Nigeria call in replacement for Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye

Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye will miss the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

The Nigeria Football Federation confirmed on Monday evening that Okoye, who was one of the three goalkeepers named on the original roster announced last week, will not join up with the squad in Uyo.

Red-hot Bendel Insurance goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, arguably one of the best shot stoppers in the domestic championship, has been handed his first-ever call-up to the Super Eagles as a replacement for Okoye. 

The 23-year-old has kept an incredible six clean sheets in seven matches contested by Bendel Insurance in the topflight so far this season and was in the team that participated in the qualifying rounds of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Last season, Obasogie was one of the standout players in the Bendel Insurance team that went on a 26-game unbeaten run.

He will compete with Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia) and Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba) for a starting shirt in the November internationals.

With Okoye pulling out of the squad, everything indicates that manager Jose Peseiro is likely to stick wit his first choice goalkeeper Uzoho for both games despite his howlers in the back-to-back matches with Saudi Arabia and Mozambique last month. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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