Give NPFL Goalkeepers Opportunity - Yakubu Aiyegbeni questions Eric Chelle over the selection of Super Eagles shot stoppers

Former Super Eagles and Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni has openly challenged national team head coach Eric Chelle over his decision to keep goalkeeper Amas Obasogie in the squad during Nigeria’s failed 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.

Obasogie, currently on the books of Singida SC in Tanzania, has earned multiple call-ups but has yet to make his senior debut. Despite being part of the squad for the qualifiers, the 24-year-old did not play a single minute.

Speaking on the “Home Turf” podcast, Yakubu expressed frustration at what he described as a lack of trust in domestic talent.

“Historically, coaches put one or two home-based players in the squad,” Yakubu said.

He continued, “You brought in a goalkeeper from Tanzania, did you watch him in goal before?”

The former Nigerian international insisted that Chelle likely had not evaluated Obasogie closely and argued that a Nigerian-based goalkeeper would have benefited more from the exposure.

Yakubu stressed that inviting a foreign-based player who never gets game time makes little developmental sense.

He added, “He has not watched him. Why not bring in a keeper from here to give him experience?”

While Obasogie has now received at least eight call-ups, he remains behind more established options in the Super Eagles’ goalkeeping lineup.