Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has named two separate squads for Nigeria’s upcoming international engagements, with Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman headlining a 24-man list for the high-profile friendlies against Poland and Portugal, while a 27-man squad dominated by home-based talents and exciting new call-ups will defend the Unity Cup in London.
The announcement, made on Wednesday, covers a packed schedule that begins with the Unity Cup at Charlton Athletic’s The Valley from May 26 to 30, where Nigeria will face Zimbabwe in the semi-final. A week later, attention shifts to Europe for the friendlies against Poland in Warsaw on June 3 and Portugal in Leiria on June 10.
For the Poland and Portugal friendly matches, Chelle has recalled his biggest stars. Galatasaray striker Osimhen leads the line alongside Atletico Madrid forward Lookman, Fulham’s Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey. Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika, Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu, and Coventry City’s Frank Onyeka also make the cut. Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye returns to the fold after missing recent international windows.
The Unity Cup squad however, tells a different story. Chelle has handed maiden call-ups to five players, the most notable being Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who recently completed his FIFA switch from England to Nigeria. Okonkwo’s inclusion marks the end of a long administrative process that cleared the former Arsenal youth keeper to represent the Super Eagles earlier this month.
Two players whose international futures have been subject of intense speculation also made the list. Millwall winger Femi Azeez, fresh off a Championship Team of the Season campaign, and AIK Stockholm’s teenage sensation Zadok Yohanna both received their first senior invitations.
Yohanna, an 18-year-old born in Bauchi, recently attracted scouting attention from Tottenham Hotspur and several Bundesliga clubs. Azeez, 24, committed his international future to Nigeria last month and becomes immediately eligible, needing no FIFA clearance as he has never represented England at any official level.
Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez, who was crowned the Scottish club’s Player of the Year on Sunday, retains his place in both squads after making his Super Eagles debut in March. He is joined in defence by Slavia Prague’s Igoh Ogbu and Olympiakos left-back Bruno Onyemaechi.
Chelle has also rewarded seven players from the Nigeria Premier Football League with call-ups to the Unity Cup squad. Ikorodu City goalkeeper Michael Atata, Enugu Rangers defenders Obinna Igboke and Chibueze Oputa, Rivers United’s Elias Ochobi, and midfielders Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars), and Tosin Oyedokun (Ikorodu City) all made the cut.
Notably absent from both squads is David Ozoh, the Crystal Palace midfielder currently on loan at Derby County, who had reportedly committed his international future to Nigeria in April. Ozoh requires a one-time switch from FIFA before he can feature, and that process remains unresolved.
Newcastle striker William Osula, who reportedly was contacted by the NFF earlier this year about a potential switch from Denmark, also missed out as his international allegiance remains undecided.
The Unity Cup semi-final against Zimbabwe is scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, with the winner advancing to face either Jamaica or India in the final. Nigeria are the defending champions of the invitational tournament. The friendlies against Poland and Portugal serve as key preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, where the Super Eagles have been drawn alongside Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau.
Full Squad Lists
Unity Cup Squad (27 players):
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus), Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England), Michael Atata (Ikorodu City)
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Obinna Igboke (Enugu Rangers), Elias Ochobi (Rivers United), Chibueze Oputa (Enugu Rangers)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympic Marseille, France), Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa FC, Italy), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Samson Tijani (FK Dukla Prague, Czech Republic), Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars), Tosin Oyedokun (Ikorodu City)
Forwards: Moses Simon (Paris FC, France), Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain), Philip Otele (Hamburger SV, Germany), Owen Oseni (Plymouth FC, England), Zadok Abu Yohanna (AIK, Sweden), Terem Moffi (FC Porto, Portugal), Rafiu Durosinmi (Pisa FC, Italy), Femi Azeez (Millwall FC, England)
Poland and Portugal Friendlies Squad (24 players):
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy), Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England), Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
Defenders: Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Frank Onyeka (Coventry City, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkey), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy), Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympic Marseille, France), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England), Moses Simon (Paris FC, France), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkey), Terem Moffi (FC Porto, Portugal)
