Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named 12 debutants in Nigeria’s 27-man squad for the 2026 Unity Cup mini-tournament in London, fulfilling his earlier promise to scout extensively across the Nigeria Premier Football League and among foreign-based players of Nigerian descent.

Back in April, Chelle revealed plans to use the Unity Cup as an experimental platform to assess new talents while reserving his established stars for June’s high-profile friendlies against Poland and Portugal.

“The Unity Cup provides a platform to assess new players,” Chelle had said.

“I will comb Europe and invite new players of Nigerian descent, alongside those who were previously called up but never got the chance to feature.

“Top players from the Nigeria Premier Football League will also be considered, as I will be watching a number of domestic league games from now until the end of the season.”

Chelle further explained that he intended to rely on his established senior internationals for the high-profile June friendlies against Poland and Portugal because victories in both matches could significantly improve Nigeria’s position in the FIFA rankings.

“For the big warm-up games in June against Poland and Portugal, I will feature my first-team players. These are games that can push us up the global ranking if we win them,” he added.

Since making that statement, the Franco-Malian tactician has travelled across Nigeria monitoring domestic league matches, with Chelle spotted at venues including the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu.

The final Unity Cup squad reflects that scouting mission, with several standout NPFL performers earning maiden invitations alongside foreign-based prospects now pushing for senior national team recognition.

Among the headline names is Arthur Okonkwo, the former Arsenal academy goalkeeper who recently committed his international future to Nigeria after receiving FIFA clearance.

The 24-year-old, currently with Wrexham AFC, is the only Unity Cup debutant also selected for the June friendlies against Poland and Portugal.

NPFL breakout goalkeeper Michael Atata also received a first call-up after an impressive domestic season with Ikorodu City, during which he kept 16 clean sheets.

In defence, Chelle also handed maiden invitations to Obinna Igboke and Chibueze Oputa of Enugu Rangers, as well as Elias Ochobi from Rivers United.

The midfield department includes defensive midfielder Aderemi Adeoye, creative Ayobami Junior of Shooting Stars and fellow Ikorodu City player Tosin Oyedokun.


Up front, Chelle introduced several fresh attacking options, including Irish-born striker Owen Oseni, who becomes the first Irish-born player invited to the Super Eagles, Sweden-based teenager Zadok Yohanna of AIK, towering striker Rafiu Durosinmi and winger Femi Azeez.

Azeez recently pledged his international future to Nigeria ahead of England and Spain after an outstanding Championship campaign with Millwall in which he registered 11 goals and seven assists.

While the squad contains 12 outright newcomers, several other players also return to the national team setup after long absences or brief previous involvements.

Samson Tijani earned his first call-up in six years after last featuring for Nigeria in a friendly defeat to Algeria in October 2020.

Defenders Chibuike Nwaiwu and Emmanuel Fernandez, alongside winger Philip Otele, also returned after making their debuts during the previous international window in March.

Midfielder Ebenezer Akinsanmiro was included again despite still waiting for his first appearance in a Super Eagles shirt, even after being part of Nigeria’s bronze medal-winning squad at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria will face Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup semi-final at The Valley on May 26, with the winners progressing to the final against either Jamaica or India.

However, despite the excitement surrounding the fresh faces, appearances in the tournament will not count as FIFA international caps because the competition falls completely outside the recognised FIFA international calendar.

The Unity Cup runs from May 26 to 30, before the official June international window opens from June 1 to 9. As a result, the tournament is classified as an unofficial exhibition competition rather than an official senior international event.

Because the matches fall outside the FIFA window, clubs are not obliged to release players, which explains Chelle’s heavily experimental squad dominated by NPFL standouts, fringe internationals and players whose seasons have already ended.

Chelle, however, maintained a far more experienced core for June’s friendlies against Poland and Portugal, with established stars such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Maduka Okoye, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi all selected.

Nigeria will face Poland at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on June 3 before taking on Portugal in Leiria on June 10 as Selecao’s preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.