Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has opened up about the absence of star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman from Nigeria’s 25-man squad for the upcoming Unity Cup Tournament in London.
Despite including seasoned players like Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi, Stanley Nwabali, and team captain Ahmed Musa, Chelle opted to leave out some of the nation’s top attacking talents. His decision, however, is a calculated one.
“Participating in the Unity Cup will allow us to evaluate players in different positions and strengthen our squad ahead of crucial matches later in the year,” Chelle told the Nigeria Football Federation Communications.
He stressed that the tournament offers an ideal platform to test new strategies and give emerging players a chance to impress ahead of the next competitive phase of Nigeria’s football calendar.
Tournament Details
The Unity Cup 2025 will be held at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, West London, which boasts a capacity of 17,250. The competition features a mix of home-based and international players, and brings together four national teams:
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Nigeria
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Ghana
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Jamaica
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Trinidad and Tobago
The action begins on Tuesday, May 27, with the opening semi-final between Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica in what’s being dubbed the first-ever UK “Trini-Jam” derby.
The following day, May 28, sees the rekindling of one of African football’s most storied rivalries as Nigeria takes on Ghana. The two West African giants will battle for a spot in the final, renewing a 74-year-old football rivalry.
The tournament will wrap up on Saturday, May 31, with both the third-place playoff and the grand finale, where the inaugural Unity Cup champion will be crowned.
Source: African Publitciy
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