Friendlies: Nigeria without Victor Osimhen!

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has unveiled two separate squads for the upcoming matches, delivering a major surprise: the absence of Victor Osimhen and the unexpected return of Ahmed Musa.

As part of preparations for the upcoming fixtures, notably the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and AFCON 2025, Chelle has opted for a two-stage approach.

First, Nigeria will compete in the Unity Cup in London from May 26 to 31. This symbolic tournament pays tribute to the Afro-Caribbean communities of the British capital. Nigeria will face Ghana on May 28, then either Jamaica or Trinidad and Tobago.

For this competition, Chelle has called up an experimental squad, largely made up of players from the NPFL. Usual stars like Osimhen, Lookman, Iwobi, and Boniface have been rested.

The return of Ahmed Musa, absent for over a year, is a headline-grabber, as is the presence of German-Nigerian Felix Agu, brought in for an exploratory look.

Chelle wants to broaden his player pool

Then, on June 6, the Super Eagles will take on Russia in Moscow. This time, mainstays like Troost-Ekong, Aina, and Boniface will be back in action, while most of the domestic-based players will make way.

The Malian coach is clearly looking to expand his player base and calmly prepare for the major competitions ahead.

Below are Nigeria’s two squads for the Unity Cup and Russia:

Amine Jomni |

Editorfr

African football writer and sports journalist covering football news, stories and insights while sharing his expertise with fans across the continent.