Chelle to use Unity Cup victors in place of Osimhen and Lookman for Poland and Portugal friendlies

SUPER Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has decided to build on yesterday's success in the Unity Cup by using the strikers who won it to prosecute next month's friendly games against Portugal and Poland in place of regulars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

Last night, Nigeria won the Unity Cup in London with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Jamaica in the final after beating Zimbabwe 2-0 in the semi final. Several players excelled in the mini tournament, with Milwall striker Femi Azeez scoring a brace in the opening match and yesterday, Terem Moffi of French club Nice scored a close-range header, making a case for being reinstated into the first team.

Sitting in 21st place in the Fifa rankings, Nigeria is one of the highest ranked teams not going to the 2026 World Cup, making the Super Eagles highly sought-after opponents for teams wanting to play friendlies ahead of the World Cup. As a result, World Cup-bound Portugal have invited Nigeria to Lisbon to face them on June 10, while Poland have organised a friendly against the Super Eagles in Warsaw on June 3.

Yesterday, Mr Chelle revealed that key forwards Osimhen and Lookman will miss both matches as they had withdrawn from the squad. He explained that they will now be replaced with some of the new talent that has emerged during the Unity Cup tournament.

Mr Chelle added: “For now, we have two games, Poland and Portugal and I have a lot of problems. We will miss two players because Victor Osimhen might have to change a club and Lookman is very tired and Atletico asked us to let him be so, we will travel with 18 players and we will see what happens in Poland and Portugal.”

Despite the absence of two of Nigeria's biggest stars, the Super Eagles boss insisted his side would approach both matches with confidence and determination. Looking ahead to the fixtures, Mr Chelle acknowledged the quality of both opponents, particularly Portugal, who he described as one of the strongest teams in world football.

Mr Chelle added: “We will definitely make a fight, if we win we win, if we lose we lose but if we lose, they have to work on us. Poland is a good team and Portugal is maybe the best team in the world, so this is a great challenge for us and I want to go to their own country to beat them.”