Amas Obasogie stood on the training pitch, soaking in the atmosphere of the Super Eagles camp in Kigali. It was his second senior call-up, yet the feeling never got old—the thrill of donning the green and white, the dream of stepping onto the pitch for Nigeria.

As he watched Stanley Nwabali, Nigeria’s undisputed No.1, Obasogie couldn’t help but feel inspired. Nwabali’s journey was proof that hard work and patience paid off.

Not long ago, the Super Eagles struggled to find a reliable goalkeeper. Francis Uzoho and Daniel Akpeyi had their moments, but neither locked down the position. Then came Nwabali, a shot-stopper who had proven himself in the NPFL before earning his place at South Africa’s Chippa United.

When Jose Peseiro gave him the nod for AFCON 2023, Nwabali seized the moment. He played all seven games, kept four clean sheets, and emerged as a hero in the semi-final against South Africa, where he saved two penalties in the decisive shootout. Nigeria fell short in the final, but Nwabali had won the nation’s trust.

For Obasogie, that journey was a source of motivation.

“I respect the effort Stanley Nwabali has put into claiming the number one shirt,” Obasogie told TheCable. “He proved himself in the NPFL before moving to Chippa United. Now, being in the Eagles camp is a huge opportunity for me.”

With Nigeria set to face Rwanda in a crucial World Cup qualifier on Friday, Obasogie dreams of making his debut.

“I train with the mentality that I am a Super Eagles goalkeeper,” he said. “If the opportunity comes to represent Nigeria, I aim to take it fully.”

Joining Nwabali and newly invited Kayode Bankole in Nigeria’s goalkeeping department, Obasogie is ready to prove himself. The Super Eagles squad is now complete, with Umar Sadiq and Alhassan Yusuf arriving in camp on Tuesday.

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins in earnest, and for Amas Obasogie, every training session is a step closer to turning his dream into reality.