Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has revealed why several big-name players will miss this year’s Unity Cup.
Chelle left out stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman to give new talents a chance to shine.
He said the move is part of a long-term project to develop fresh players who can fit into the team’s system quickly.
Nigeria will face rivals Ghana on May 28 in the first match of the Unity Cup. The tournament will serve as a warm-up ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in September.
Coach Seeks New Identity for Super Eagles Team
Coach Chelle is focusing on building a new identity for the Super Eagles.
“We have a lot of players in Nigeria, so we need to give chances to them so they can show us their quality, so it’s difficult for me to talk or think about anything else,” he said in an interview.
The coach added that this was not a permanent goodbye to top players like Osimhen. Instead, it’s a chance to test new ideas and players.
“We have a project, as a group, we want to create an identity, so we need to put some players who can learn quickly and get into the team,” he said.
The Unity Cup, he said, gives him the perfect platform to test different players and tactics.
“The Unity Cup is a great tournament to try out some players or try out some systems to be ready in September,” Chelle added.
Veteran Musa Returns, NPFL Stars Get the Spotlight
The coach named 10 players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in the squad. This is seen as a bold step to promote home-based talent.
Veteran forward Ahmed Musa also made a surprise return. Many fans had believed he was nearing retirement from international football.
Chelle is hoping the experienced Musa can guide the younger players and offer leadership on and off the pitch.
The coach is using this tournament to prepare the team for future competitions. With World Cup and AFCON qualifiers coming up, Nigeria needs a deep squad.
The Unity Cup will also include teams like Ghana, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, making it a strong test for Nigeria’s evolving squad.
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