The Super Eagles will head into the 2026 Unity Cup in London with a clear focus on squad rebuilding, talent discovery, and tactical refinement ahead of crucial FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
With head coach Eric Chelle expected to use the invitational tournament to assess emerging options, the competition—featuring Jamaica, Zimbabwe, and India—offers a timely platform to integrate fresh faces into the national setup.
Completesports.com‘s AUGUSTINE AKHILOMEN highlights five players who could seize the opportunity to earn their maiden Super Eagles caps at the Unity Cup.
Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham)
After an impressive breakthrough season with Wrexham in the Championship, where they are currently pushing for a play-off place, Okonkwo—who recently switched allegiance to represent the Super Eagles at international level—will be hoping to make his senior debut at next month’s Unity Cup in London.
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Known for his quick reflexes, the Nigerian goalkeeper will be keen to use the tournament as an opportunity to compete for the Super Eagles’ number one shirt alongside established names such as
Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho.
Michael Kayode (Brentford)
The 21-year-old, born in Italy to Nigerian parents, may get the chance to represent the Super Eagles at the forthcoming Unity Cup after former Azzurri coach Gennaro Gattuso overlooked him for the 2026 World Cup play-offs despite his strong form.
Interestingly, NFF officials are keen to facilitate a one-on-one meeting with the Brentford defender in a bid to make him available for the tournament.
Kayode’s pace, physicality, and trademark long throws offer new attacking dimensions to the Super Eagles.
He has been impressive this season for Brentford, making a total of 30 appearances, scoring once, and receiving six yellow cards.
Kingsley Osezele Ehizibue (Udinese)
The Udinese defender, who has consistently expressed interest in playing for the Super Eagles, may finally fulfil his ambition at the 2026 Unity Cup.
Ehizibue was called up to the Super Eagles by former head coach Gernot Rohr for a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone in March 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of the fixture.
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Born in Germany to Nigerian parents and raised in the Netherlands, he has pledged his international future to Nigeria over his country of upbringing.
He represented the Netherlands at U-21 level, albeit in non-binding fixtures.
The right-back can operate anywhere along the flank and possesses impressive technique, complemented by the physical attributes that make him an ideal fit for the Super Eagles.
Tim Iroegbunam (Everton)
The 2026 Unity Cup may serve as a platform for the Everton midfielder to make his debut for the Super Eagles, having already indicated his interest in representing Nigeria at international level.
Born in England, he has represented the country at youth level, including being part of the squad that won the 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Iroegbunam is regarded as a physically imposing and versatile midfielder, comparable to Wilfred Ndidi, with the ability to operate in both defensive and central midfield roles.
His potential inclusion would further strengthen Nigeria’s midfield options ahead of future tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Femi Azeez (Millwall)
The Millwall winger is reportedly ready and highly motivated to represent Nigeria, with a potential Super Eagles call-up for the 2026 Unity Cup on the horizon following his impressive form for the Championship club this season.
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Renowned for his pace and directness, Azeez is considered a strong fit for the Super Eagles and could provide healthy competition on the right wing.
Azeez, who is eligible to represent Nigeria through his father, has been closely monitored by head coach Eric Chelle.
9 Comments
In addition to the listed players, i would suggest including Zadok, Marcus Abraham, Nnadi, Akinsamiro, Alebiosu, Otele, Agu on this list.
If the coach and the nff are really serious about the next WC.
Only 13 players from the WCQ&AFCON merit selection for upcoming games:
Nwabali, Bassey, Ajayi, Aina, Bruno, Ndidi(injury 50/50), Iwobi, Lookman, Akor, Osi, Onyeka, Onyedika, Bashiru, and Osayi
No need recycling underperformers!
All of them were born and raised outside Nigeria. They know nothing about Nigerian football. They have never played for any underage team of Nigeria. They have never played in Nigeria league. This is where we always have problem with our national teams – – too many foreign players.
Without looking up the internet, name any local player, young oh, not football age, that you can trust to enter the Super eagles in the future?
Eagles spots are not for any comers.
If not the CAF expunged CHAN, how many chan guys could you have recommended to the eagles?
Players who have zero technical skills and groomed by unexposed coaches that can’t even take a spot in lowly togo league?
Nigeria has used mostly home based players for Olympic qualifiers over the years and how many have we attended?
Let’s not talk about “ordinary” CAF competitions that they hardly even cross into the group stages for tournaments that HOLD YEARLY.
Mostly skilled exposed “foreign” players have not qualified us for 2 straight world cups. You want home based. Home based who?
Our cadet teams have been full of home based and thank God for MRI that “should” have helped us with feeder teams for the eagles and falcons produced players that are often always “unrecognizable” after their championships (where are many garba boys over the recent years today, after failed expedition? I thought a man’s “gift” will make way for him? All homebased cadet teams)
Falcons are ALREADY A DISASTER waiting to be found out during WAFCON because we are trusting “old” women to drag us through to semis at least, everywhere go blur because a home based coach doesn’t have the balls to give NFF training programme that incorporates youth into falcons and get many games under their belt.)
Bottom line, a gold fish has no hiding place. Who are the gold fishes in our topsy turvy league today?
You go trust them?
Baba if most hospitals in Europe and America are not having problems with our born and bred in Nigeria Medical Doctors why should players of Nigeria decent be a problem to our national teams just because they didn’t understand our cultures. Nigeria Medical Doctors were also raised in Nigeria with zero knowledge of where they are going yet they have greatly improved the standard and performance of those countries why are you complaining about foreign born players coming to play for us . or have you forgotten Ademola Lookman wasn’t born in Nigeria but he brought glory to us.
I must say NFF should encourage local production of players but claiming the problems we have in our national team is because of influx of foreign players is rubbish
@Idowu please wake up from slumber this is 3:00pm not 2:00am.
Mention the last time our under age football were successful.
All these jingoistic players are not good for the Super Eagles.
This is a jingoistic comment.
You are an ethnic jingoist.
Tarara, you need to climb higher.
@Pompei, You dare to pit your pitiful words against mine? You will pay for this provocation. Your purulence will be punished.
Now kneel, kneel before me, your emperor.
When it comes to penning powerful prose, I own you!
Climbie Tarara, you must climb higher,
Competition is nada!
Sorry. Can’t kneel b4 a nonsense nonentity.. My knees are too ashy. Ashy Slashy will not be happy.
My regards to Dr. Koyemi Oderinde. It’s been too long amigo!