Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has named two strong squads for the upcoming Unity Cup Tournament in London and a high-profile international friendly against Russia in Moscow, MySportDab Reports.
The announcement comes with the notable absence of star striker Victor Osimhen, who has been granted rest following a busy club season with Galatasaray.
The Unity Cup, set to take place at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford from May 27, will see Nigeria compete alongside Jamaica, Ghana, and Trinidad & Tobago in a four-nation tournament aimed at fostering unity and preparing teams for future international competitions. Nigeria opens their campaign on May 28 against West African rivals Ghana.
Chelle has selected 25 players for the Unity Cup, blending experience with fresh local talent. Seasoned campaigners such as Ahmed Musa, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Moses Simon lead the group, alongside in-form goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Several players from the Nigeria Premier Football League have also earned call-ups, including Sikiru Alimi, Junior Harrison Nduka, and Saviour Isaac.
“The Unity Cup provides an excellent platform to test new faces and see how they fit into our long-term plans,” Chelle said. “It’s also a chance to reward some of the best performers from the domestic league.”
In the goalkeeper department, Nwabali (Chippa United), Maduka Okoye (Udinese), and Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars) will vie for the starting spot. The defense includes West Brom’s Semi Ajayi, Olympiacos’ Bruno Onyemaechi, and home-based talents like Ifeanyi Onyebuchi of Enugu Rangers.
Midfield strength comes from the likes of Ndidi, Frank Onyeka (Augsburg), and home talents like Collins Ugwueze and Papa Daniel Mustapha. Up front, the likes of Chukwueze, Iheanacho, and Simon will lead the attack, with support from in-form strikers such as Cyriel Dessers, Tolu Arokodare, and Kano Pillars’ Ahmed Musa.
Germany-based Felix Agu has also been included but will only train with the squad without participating in the matches.
Unity Cup Match Schedule:
- May 27: Trinidad & Tobago vs Jamaica
- May 28: Nigeria vs Ghana
- May 31: Final and third-place playoff
Following the Unity Cup, Nigeria will turn their attention to a prestigious friendly against Russia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on June 6. A 21-man squad has been named for the encounter, including several players retained from the Unity Cup group, and some key additions for experience.
Captain William Troost-Ekong returns to marshal the defense, joined by Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ola Aina. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika also make the midfield lineup, while Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface joins the attack after an impressive club season.
The friendly is seen as an opportunity to test the squad against European opposition and fine-tune the team ahead of AFCON qualifiers later in the year.
With a blend of emerging stars and established internationals, Chelle’s selection signals both a focus on youth development and a push for competitive sharpness across all fronts.
