Benin’s Goalkeeping Stalwart Released for AFCON 2025
The reigning champions of Nigeria’s Premier Football League, Remo Stars, have granted a crucial release to their Benin Republic goalkeeper, Adebiyi Obassa. This decision allows Obassa to fully commit to representing his nation in the highly anticipated 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Obassa was officially named in coach Gernot Rohr’s final 28-man squad for the continental tournament, which is slated to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Obassa, a pivotal player for the Ikenne-based club, received his release on Tuesday, December 9. He subsequently joined the Benin national team camp in Ben Slimane, Morocco, on Wednesday, December 10. This move was facilitated by official communications exchanged between Remo Stars management and the Benin Football Federation, ensuring a smooth transition for the goalkeeper.
He now stands as one of three goalkeepers selected for the Squirrels’ AFCON campaign, joining Marcel Dandjinou and the France-based Saturnin Alagbe. This trio will be tasked with providing a solid defensive foundation for Benin’s ambitions on the continental stage.
Obassa’s inclusion in the national squad is a testament to his consistent and impactful performances for both his club and country. He has a proven track record of featuring for the Squirrels in various international competitions and friendly matches, steadily solidifying his position as a key member of the national team’s setup. His call-up directly follows a period of exceptional form for Remo Stars, where he has been instrumental in their domestic successes. His crucial saves, commanding presence in the penalty area, and leadership qualities have been vital to the team’s defensive solidity. Notably, he was a cornerstone of their historic first NPFL title triumph last season.
This current season has seen Obassa feature prominently in goal for Remo Stars, participating in seven league matches and also featuring in the preliminary rounds of the CAF Confederation Cup. His absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Nigerian champions, who will need to rely on the Central African Republic goalkeeper, Alladun Kolimba, to step up in his stead. Kolimba has already demonstrated his capabilities, having been in goal during a recent fixture against Enyimba.
For the Benin Republic, Obassa’s presence is expected to inject significant competition and depth into the goalkeeping department. The team is aiming for a strong showing at the continental showpiece, a goal they have worked towards diligently through a challenging qualification campaign. Their qualification journey saw them placed in the same group as Nigeria, ultimately finishing second behind the Super Eagles.
The goalkeeper’s return to club action with Remo Stars will be contingent on how far Benin Republic progresses in the AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Benin Republic has been drawn into Group C of the 2025 AFCON, a formidable group that also includes Botswana, DR Congo, and Senegal. Their tournament campaign is set to commence with a challenging fixture against DR Congo on Tuesday, December 23. This will be followed by a match against Botswana on Saturday, December 27, and their final group stage encounter against Senegal on December 30. The team will be looking to navigate this tough group and advance to the knockout stages.