Head coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle, has left out Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman from Nigeria’s squad to face Ghana in the upcoming Unity Cup, as well as the friendly match against Russia in June.
This development was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon following the official release of the invited players list by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
While Osimhen and Lookman are notable omissions, the squad features the return of several seasoned players including goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, Frank Onyeka, Kelechi Iheanacho, and team captain Ahmed Musa.
Chelle has also handed call-ups to several home-based talents from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) as part of efforts to test new options ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The domestic league contingent includes:
- Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars and Super Eagles B captain)
- Ifeanyi Onyebuchi and Collins Ugwueze (Enugu Rangers)
- Sodiq Ismail (Remo Stars)
- Waliu Ojetoye (Ikorodu City)
- Saviour Isaac (Enugu Rangers)
- Papa Daniel Mustapha (Niger Tornadoes)
- Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars)
- Adamu Abubakar (Plateau United)
These players will compete for spots against more established internationals such as Moses Simon, Stanley Nwabali, Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, Tolu Arokodare, and Kelechi Iheanacho.
The Unity Cup, scheduled for May 26–31, will see Nigeria face Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago in a four-nation mini-tournament aimed at fostering camaraderie and scouting fresh talent.
Following the Unity Cup, Nigeria will travel to Moscow to take on Russia in an international friendly at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium on June 6 — a historic encounter as it marks the first-ever senior international match between the two nations.
Coach Chelle said the selection was deliberate, with a focus on experimenting with new formations and player combinations ahead of crucial World Cup qualifying matches in the second half of the year.
“This 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,” he said.
With Osimhen and Lookman absent, all eyes will be on Nigeria’s emerging talents and the reintegrated veterans as the Super Eagles gear up for a critical international window.
