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 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).
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).
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.
