Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has selected Ahmed Musa, the experienced Kano Pillars forward, in his 25-man squad for the upcoming Unity Cup tournament scheduled to be held in London.
Joining Musa in the squad are familiar names such as winger Moses Simon, goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, and Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi.
Chelle emphasized that the Unity Cup will serve as a vital platform to evaluate emerging talents and experiment with new tactical setups ahead of international fixtures in the coming months.
“The Unity Cup is a valuable opportunity for us to observe a few fresh faces in different roles. It will help us strengthen our squad ahead of the competitive games in September and October,” the coach said.
In his selection, Chelle gave chances to several standout players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Junior Harrison Nduka, captain of the home-based Super Eagles B team and Remo Stars, leads the domestic players in defence alongside Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Igoh Ogbu, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Waliu Ojetoye.
The midfield lineup includes both newcomers and established players, with Papa Daniel Mustapha, Saviour Isaac, and Collins Ugwueze contending for places alongside Ndidi, Brentford’s Frank Onyeka, and Chrisantus Uche.
Up front, Musa is joined by Adamu Abubakar and Sikiru Alimi in the battle for attacking spots with the likes of Samuel Chukwueze, Cyriel Dessers, Nathan Tella, Tolu Arokodare, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Moses Simon.
The Unity Cup, which brings together Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, is set to take place at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, West London. The tournament begins on Tuesday, May 27, with Jamaica facing Trinidad and Tobago in the first semi-final.
Nigeria’s semi-final clash with long-time rivals Ghana follows on Wednesday, May 28.
The final matches of the tournament are scheduled for Saturday, May 31.
The losing teams from both semi-finals will compete in a third-place playoff, while the winners face off in the final to determine the 2025 Unity Cup champion.
Additionally, Chelle has announced a 21-man squad for the Super Eagles’ friendly against Russia, scheduled for Friday, June 6, at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
This roster features team captain William Troost-Ekong, defenders Ola Aina and Bright Osayi-Samuel, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Victor Boniface and Sadiq Umar.
Some players from the Unity Cup lineup are also expected to make the trip.
