Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has announced a 26-man squad for the 2025 Unity Cup in London, notably excluding high-profile names such as Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface.
Making headlines, however, is the return of seasoned forward Ahmed Musa, who also resumes his role as captain, marking his first national team call-up since January 2024.
The selected squad leans heavily on fringe players and talents from the Nigeria Premier Football League, as several regulars based in Europe are being rested ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Among those missing are key players like Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi.
In total, nine NPFL players have been included in the squad, providing them with a rare opportunity to prove themselves on the international stage.
Meanwhile, Werder Bremen’s Felix Agu has been invited to train with the team, although he will not participate in matches due to unresolved documentation issues.
The Unity Cup is scheduled to run from May 26 to 31 at Brentford FC’s Gtech Community Stadium, featuring Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago. Nigeria’s key clash against Ghana is set for May 28.
Once the tournament concludes, most of the home-based players are expected to return to Nigeria, while the likes of Boniface, Ola Aina, and William Troost-Ekong are expected to join up with the squad ahead of the June 6 international friendly against Russia in Moscow.
Full Squad 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