Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie is delighted to have been included in the provisional squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and says he does not take the opportunity “for granted.”
Now plying his trade with Tanzanian side Singida Black Stars, Obasogie will compete with several other top‑flight goalkeepers — including Maduka Okoye, Stanley Nwabali, Francis Uzoho, Ebenezer Harcourt and Adebayo Adeleye for a place in Nigeria’s final squad.
Reflecting on the call-up in a recent interview, Obasogie said, “I am very happy and honoured to be among the provisional list … I don’t take the opportunity for granted. I want to make the coach proud, by God’s grace.”
He added that representing Nigeria remains “one of the greatest honours” of his career, and urged fellow Nigerians to rally behind the Super Eagles leading into AFCON.
Editorial
Football often says that goalkeepers are either heroes or scapegoats the difference between triumph and heartbreak can hinge on a single hand, a single save, or a single mistake. For Amas Obasogie, this call‑up is not just another selection it’s a crossroads.
He arrives not as a guaranteed starter, but as a contender. In a goalkeeper group packed with international experience and pedigree, Obasogie’s challenge is steep. Yet there is something quietly powerful in his response: gratitude, humility, resolve. He does not speak of rights. He speaks of gratitude. He does not claim a place he vows to earn it.
That attitude matters. In a squad healing from World‑Cup heartbreak and eyeing redemption at AFCON, character often becomes as important as ability. A goalkeeper who sees his chance as privilege not entitlement can bring more than clean sheets he brings purpose, unity, quiet confidence.
Obasogie’s story also reminds us that African football’s journey rarely travels straight. From local leagues to continental pitches from relative obscurity to national limelight the climb is uneven, unpredictable, often harsh. Yet those who carry humility, hard work and hunger might find opportunity when least expected.
If he plays or even if he does not Obasogie’s attitude already offers a blueprint: respect the privilege, honour the shirt, and always be ready. That mindset, more than any form or stat, may end up defining a career.
Did You Know?
- Amas Obasogie spent part of his career playing in the Nigerian league with Bendel Insurance F.C., and earned the NPFL Golden Glove last season with 18 clean sheets a record that helped earn his return to national‑team consideration.
- Before his move to Singida Black Stars, Obasogie had featured in earlier national‑team squads, but the 2025 call-up represents a real shot at AFCON giving domestic‑and‑foreign‑based goalkeepers a fighting chance for the spot.
- Despite strong competition — with goalkeepers such as Okoye, Nwabali, Uzoho, Harcourt and Adeleye also in the provisional list — Obasogie’s inclusion signals that the coaching staff want depth and readiness, not just name value.
- Obasogie has publicly acknowledged that he is learning from peers like Nwabali and Okoye showing humility and a willingness to grow, even as he prepares for the highest stage.
- For many players hailing from domestic leagues or lesser‑known African clubs like Singida, a call-up to a major tournament like AFCON can serve as a springboard exposure to scouts, clubs, and global attention making such invitations career‑defining rather than ceremonial.
