How a Southall Player's Journey Took Him from Non-League to AFCON Standby

How a Southall Player's Journey Took Him from Non-League to AFCON Standby

It is not everyday that a player makes an appearance in a non-league match halfway through an international tournament that they are a part of.

Southall FC, currently playing in the Isthmian League South Central Division (4th Tier of Non-League), had a rather unexpected appearance at the weekend in their game away at Littlehampton Town FC.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, they found themselves in need of a goalkeeper for the match taking place on Saturday 10th January and called upon a former player of the club Kojusoluwa Abraham Abayomi. Abayomi played for his former side and helped them to earn a point in a 1-1 draw in the game, which is a huge point to take them 3 points above the relegation zone at this stage during a fight for survival.

However, Abayomi is currently on international duty as he is a standby goalkeeper for Nigeria during their Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco currently. The Super Eagles are having a fantastic tournament so far with them being the only side to have a perfect record in the competition, having won all five of their games in the lead up to qualifying for the semi-finals stage.

Due to Nigeria still being in the competition, Abayomi will be travelling back to Morocco in time for the semi-final against the host nation on Wednesday evening. It certainly has been a busy and rather unusual week for the goalkeeper!

Southall FC took to social media post-match to thank Abayomi for his help at such short notice for the game at the weekend and they also wished him well for the remainder of the international tournament which Abayomi will be hoping on Sunday crowns the Super Eagles as Champions of Africa.

We’d like to thank our former Goalkeeper Kojusoluwa Abraham Abayomi for stepping up at short notice yesterday despite his international commitments.

Everyone at the club wishes you all the best as he leaves to join up with the Nigeria National team on standby ahead of their… pic.twitter.com/rgbtaoUwGe

— Southall FC (@FCSouthall) January 11, 2026