Yakubu Aiyegbeni slams Nigeria coach Eric Chelle for overlooking home-based goalkeepers

Former Nigeria striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has taken a swipe at Super Eagles for persistent snub of home-based goalkeepers.

Chelle, who took over the Nigeria coaching job early 2025 opted to invite Tanzania-based goalkeeper Amas Obasogie at the expense of shot stoppers in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Despite handing call up to Amas Obasogie, the former Mali tactician failed to give him playing time in the World Cup playoff campaign.

Obasogie, who plays for Singida SC, has been called up several times but is yet to make his senior debut. Despite not being was part of the squad throughout the qualifiers, he never featured in any match, a decision Yakubu believes reflects a lack of confidence in Nigerian-based goalkeepers.

Speaking on the Home Turf podcast, Yakubu said coaches traditionally include “one or two home-based players,” but questioned Chelle’s choice, asking, “You brought in a goalkeeper from Tanzania, did you watch him in goal before?” He insisted the coach “has not watched him,” adding that it would have been more beneficial to give exposure to an NPFL goalkeeper instead.

Yakubu argued that calling up a foreign-based player who does not play “makes little developmental sense” and urged Chelle to give local goalkeepers a chance.

Despite receiving at least eight call-ups, Obasogie still sits behind more experienced options in the Super Eagles’ goalkeeping pecking order.