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Eric Chelle is preparing to split his Super Eagles squad into two clear groups this summer, using a mix of experimentation and experience as Nigeria line up a series of matches in May and June, Footynaija reports.
The team will first head to London for the Unity Cup, where they face Zimbabwe on 26 May before a second game against either India or Jamaica. It is a competition Nigeria won previously, but this time the focus will be less on silverware and more on discovering new talent.
“The Unity Cup provides a platform to assess new players. 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. 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,” Chelle said.
That plan is expected to bring several NPFL standouts into the spotlight. There is also room for fresh faces such as Arthur Okonkwo, Ethan Nwaneri, and Zadok Yohanna, while fringe internationals like Cyriel Dessers and Tolu Arokodare will be keen to impress.
However, Chelle’s approach will change when Nigeria travel to face Poland on 3 June and Portugal on 10 June. For those matches, the coach wants his strongest possible team on the pitch.
“For the big warm-up games in June against Poland and Portugal, I will feature my first team players. These are games that can push us up the global ranking if we win them.”
That means key figures such as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi are all expected to return, giving Nigeria a stronger edge as they test themselves against top European opposition.
