Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has made a bold decision by excluding star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman from Nigeria’s squad for the upcoming Unity Cup matches against Ghana and Russia. The announcement was confirmed after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) released the official list of invited players on Wednesday afternoon.
Osimhen and Lookman, both key figures in recent Super Eagles campaigns, will miss not only the high-profile clash against Ghana but also the international friendly against Russia scheduled for June 6 at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium the first-ever senior international meeting between the two nations.
In their absence, the squad sees the return of goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielder Frank Onyeka, striker Kelechi Iheanacho, and veteran captain Ahmed Musa. The list also features a strong contingent from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), including Remo Stars captain Junior Harrison Nduka, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Collins Ugwueze from Enugu Rangers, Sodiq Ismail (Remo Stars), Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City), Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers), Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes), Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars), and Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United).
These home-based talents will compete for places alongside established internationals such as Moses Simon, Stanley Nwabali, Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, Tolu Arokodare, and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Captain Ahmed Musa will lead the Super Eagles in the Unity Cup, a four-nation tournament featuring Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, set to run from May 26 to 31. Coach Chelle explained that the competition provides an opportunity to test new players and tactics ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, stating, “The tournament will give us the chance to try out a few new players in different roles, helping us to strengthen our squad before the matches in September and October.”
The squad announcement signals a period of experimentation and squad building for the Super Eagles, as Chelle looks to fine-tune his team for crucial fixtures later in the year.