The Super Eagles of Nigeria are gearing up for the Unity Cup, a four-nation invitational tournament set to take place in London next month. However, head coach Eric Chelle is grappling with a significant challenge: a depleted squad due to the absence of several key players.
The team will be without talismanic striker Victor Osimhen, as well as Premier League stars like Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi, due to scheduling conflicts with their club commitments. The Premier League season concludes on May 25, and FIFA regulations mandate a minimum three-day rest period for players, ruling them out of the highly anticipated Jollof Derby against Ghana on May 27.
Related: Osimhen leads Galatasaray to Turkish Cup Finals
Osimhen faces an even tighter schedule, as the Turkish Super Lig, where he plays, wraps up on May 31—just a day after the Unity Cup final. Similarly, players based in Italy and Belgium, including Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), and Tolu Arokodare (Genk), will also miss the Ghana clash, as their leagues end on May 25.
Also Read: Jamie Vardy Set To Leave Leicester City
The root of these complications lies in the tournament’s timing, which falls outside the FIFA international window of June 2–10. This scheduling conflict has left Coach Chelle with a tough task to assemble a competitive squad for the Unity Cup.
As the Super Eagles prepare for this prestigious tournament, fans are left wondering how the team will navigate these absences and rise to the occasion in London. Stay tuned for updates on how Nigeria plans to tackle this selection crisis!
