Osimhen, Lookman, Ndidi To Miss Unity Cup As NPFL Stars Return

Osimhen, Lookman, Ndidi To Miss Unity Cup As NPFL Stars Return

Sampson Adedeji

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has confirmed that several top stars will be absent from the upcoming Unity Cup scheduled to take place in London this May, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The decision means that established first-team players such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, and Wilfred Ndidi, among others, will not be considered for selection for the invitational tournament.

Chelle explained that the competition will instead serve as an opportunity to assess new and emerging talents, particularly from the domestic scene and among fringe players based in Europe.

According to the Franco-Malian tactician, players from the Nigeria Premier Football League will be given a significant opportunity to stake their claim for a place in the national team.

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

He further assured that he will closely monitor domestic competitions in the coming weeks, with a view to identifying standout performers.

“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,” he added.

The Unity Cup is expected to provide a crucial testing ground for Chelle as he continues to reshape the Super Eagles squad ahead of future international engagements.