Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named a 25-man squad for the upcoming Unity Cup Tournament in London, with key players such as Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi, Stanley Nwabali, and captain Ahmed Musa included in the roster. The tournament, which features Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, will serve as an opportunity for the coaching crew to assess squad depth ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The Unity Cup will be held at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, West London, kicking off on May 27 with Trinidad and Tobago facing Jamaica. Nigeria will take on arch-rivals Ghana the following day in a fixture steeped in decades of West African rivalry. The final and third-place matches are scheduled for May 31.
Chelle emphasized the importance of the tournament in giving fringe players a chance to stake their claim, stating: “We’re looking forward to taking part in the Unity Cup as it 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 features a blend of established internationals and rising talents from both Europe and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Home-based players include CHAN team captain Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars), Ifeanyi Onyebuchi (Enugu Rangers), and Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars). Others in the defensive lineup include Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Igoh Ogbu.
The midfield is anchored by Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, supported by NPFL standouts such as Papa Daniel Mustapha and Saviour Isaac. In attack, Chelle has called on Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Cyriel Dessers, with home-based forwards like Adamu Abubakar and Sikiru Alimi also earning selections.
For the international friendly against Russia on June 6 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Chelle has named 21 players, some overlapping with the Unity Cup squad. Notable additions include team captain William Troost-Ekong, Olaoluwa Aina, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Bundesliga forward Victor Boniface.
The Russia-friendly squad comprises a strong European-based contingent and is expected to provide a stern test for the Super Eagles as they fine-tune preparations for competitive fixtures later in the year.
Unity Cup Squad Highlights:
Goalkeepers: Nwabali, Okoye, Obasogie
Defenders: Ajayi, Onyemaechi, Ogbu, Nduka, Onyebuchi
Midfielders: Ndidi, Onyeka, Mustapha, Isaac, Uche
Forwards: Chukwueze, Iheanacho, Simon, Musa, Arokodare
Russia Friendly Additions:
Defenders: Ekong, Aina, Osayi-Samuel
Midfielders: Onyedika, Dele-Bashiru
Forwards: Boniface, Sadiq Umar
Nigeria’s dual assignments in London and Moscow mark a crucial phase in team development under Chelle’s leadership, as the Super Eagles eye a strong return to major tournament contention.
