Eric Chelle has named a 26-man Super Eagles squad for the 2025 Unity Cup tournament scheduled to take place in London from May 26 to 31. The list features a mix of local and international players, with veteran forward Ahmed Musa returning to the team for the first time in nearly five months.
Musa, who last played for Nigeria in January 2024, is also set to resume his role as captain. His return is a major talking point, as the 31-year-old brings experience and leadership to a squad that includes several lesser-known names, especially from Nigeria’s domestic league.
The Unity Cup will see Nigeria take on other nations such as Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago. Nigeria is scheduled to face Ghana on May 28 at the Gtech Community Stadium, home to Brentford FC.
Notably, some of Nigeria’s top Europe-based stars were left out of the squad. These include Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Ademola Lookman. Chelle appears to be giving them time to recover and prepare for the crucial World Cup qualifiers coming up later this year.
In their absence, the door has opened for domestic league players to shine. Nine players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) made the list, including the likes of Junior Nduka, Saviour Isaac, and Abubakar Adamu. It’s a golden opportunity for these home-based players to showcase their talents on an international stage.
Felix Agu of Werder Bremen is also part of the squad, but only for training. He will not feature in the matches as he is still finalizing paperwork related to his eligibility.
After the Unity Cup ends, the NPFL players are expected to return to Nigeria. Meanwhile, more established stars like Boniface, Ola Aina, and William Troost-Ekong are expected to link up with the team for a friendly against Russia on June 6 in Moscow.
Here’s the full 26-man list:
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Maduka Okoye, Amas Obasogie
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi, Semi Ajayi, Igoh Ogbu, Ifeany Onyebuchi, Junior Nduka, Sodiq Ismaila, Waliu Ojetoye, Felix Agu (training only)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Christantus Uche, Papa Mustapha, Chinemerem Ugwueze, Saviour Isaac
Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Kelechi Iheanacho, Nathan Tella, Cyriel Dessers, Tolu Arokodare, Sikiru Alimi, Ahmed Musa, Abubakar Adamu
