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Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has unveiled his squad for the Unity Cup, as well as the high profile international friendlies against Poland, and Portugal.
Chelle selected team captain Wilfred Ndidi, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defenders Bruno Onyemaeachi and Igoh Ogbu, forwards Moses Simon, Akor Adams and Terem Moffi, and 20 other players for the Unity Cup
There are also first-time invitee goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, defenders Emmanuel Fernandez, midfielders Raphael Onyedika, Tochukwu Nnadi and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, and forward Rafiu Durosinmi, who is also joining the group for the first time.
Home-boys Michael Atata (goalkeeper), Elias Ochobi, Chibueze Oputa, Obinna Igboke (defenders), Aderemi Adeoye, Ayobami Junior, and Tosin Oyedokun (midfielders) are also called.
The Super Eagles will face the Warriors of Zimbabwe in the semi-final of the Unity Cup at the Valley on Tuesday, 26 May.
For the friendly encounter with Poland and Portugal, captain Ndidi, midfielder Alex Iwobi, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi, midfielders Frank Onyeka and Alhassan Yusuf, and forwards Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Paul Onuachu are among the 24 players selected by Chelle.
The Super Eagles will face hosts Poland at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on Wednesday, 3 June.
Read Also:Unity Cup: Wrexham Celebrate Okonkwo’s First-Ever Super Eagles Call-Up
Chelle’s side will then fly out to Lisbon to face Portugal at the Estadio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on Wednesday, 10 June.
Unity Cup Squad
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus) Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City)
Defenders: Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Obinna Igboke (Enugu Rangers); Elias Ochobi (Rivers United); Chibueze Oputa (Enugu Rangers)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympic Marseille, France); Ebenezer Akinsanmiro (Pisa FC, Italy); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Samson Tijani (FK Dukla Prague, Czech Republic); Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars); Tosin Oyedokun (Ikorodu City)
Forwards: Simon Moses (Paris FC, France); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Philip Otele (Hamburger SV, Germany); Owen Oseni (Plymouth FC, England); Zadok Abu Yohanna (AIK, Greece); Terem Moffi (FC Porto, Portugal); Rafiu Durosinmi (Pisa FC, Italy); Femi Azeez (Millwall FC, England)
Super Eagles Squad For Poland And Portugal
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England); Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus)
Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England); Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic); Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland)
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Coventry FC, England); Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy); Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympic Marseille, France); Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA)
Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England); Moses Simon (Paris FC, France); Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey); Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Terem Moffi (FC Porto, Portugal)
16 Comments
Chelle is serious minded. I love this coach
It’s obvious that the evil agents that made us miss two consecutive WC are still in control of our football architectures.
Recycling failures for the main friendlies when he has the chance to make a big statement shows how unreliable Chelle and the nff are.
Has Ola Aina retired from the team?
Why is Alebiosu not on the list ?
Alebiosu rates higher than Osayin in the same league ?
On current form, top league performance, and in Super Eagles, matches, Awoniyi has performed better than Onuachu and Moffi.
What if some of the Unity cup players perform better than the ones in the proper friendlies ?
Will Chelle adjust the list to accommodate players that show up in the Unity Cup.
In which planet did Awoniyi perform better than Onuachu? Didn’t Onuachu just win the highest goal scorer ahead of Osimhen, Icardi and the rest?
Okay, tell me in all of the years of Onuachu career, how many goals has he scored against top teams .
What was his performance in the EPL before he got shipped to the Turkish league ?
In the last 5 matches, has he performed better than Awoniyi’s 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 matches in a tougher A league at a much lower playing time .
How about Super Eagles, compare Awoniyi’s goal and assist per minute with Onuachu
Both players are not good for the super eagles. They are part of the reason we’re not in the world Cup.I would want them to retire from the national team and save us further heartache!
I like Chelle, I’m just disappointed that Gift Orban is being ignored by him. Even CompleteSports data analysts say that statistically Gift Orban ranks among the most dangerous Nigerian strikers playing in Europe. Above the likes of Durosinmi, Awoniyi, and Moffi
I beg awoniyi is a disaster, and we don’t need unuacho either, we are just forcing unuacho on the current eagles.
I prefer gift orban over Paul and awoniyi, however moffi, akor and durosimi pleased me.
I think he want aina to rest and osayi is better than alabiosu.
The only reasonable player missing out here is onuche ogbelu, that guy deserves to be here.
He is just right behind Iwobi, ndidi and frank, he is better than every other midfielders in the super eagles right now.
Chelle should please call this guy he is that Central midfielder the eagles really need, his long passes, vision and accuracy will be a blessing to the eagles.
Nailed it @Collins. Balanced, unbiased, and very objective perspective.
Good analysis @ Collins.
Yuh pipo dey sleep on top Awoniyi mata, e mus be sey una nor knew ball or sense far fro wunu. mtcheew
To dey compared Awo wit like of Onauchu an Paul (whu be dat sef?) lmaoo. colin abi watin..dey play!
Think you underestimate Tochukwu Nnadi.Ogbelu is not better than Nnadi
Where the rest of the world preparing for the World Cup, Nigeria is preparing for Unity Cup. Is that not a shame? What are the current NFF still doing at the class house in Abuja if they have shame?
NFF, thanks for doing this to Nigeria. History will definitely remember you NFF Ajewomasan the debtors. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Omo9ja to add insult to injury, they are planning to bring Bosso of all coaches to the U23 team. An abnormality.
It will be interesting to see which of the fringe strikers can attempt to displace the established strikers in the long run.
In midfield, I am surprised Tom Dele-Bashiru was overlooked. He is been regular in Turkey this season. Still in midfield, Tijani, Nnadi and Adeoye will have to give the performance of their lives, if Chelle plays them, to help break the stronghold of Ndidi, Iwobi and Onyeka in that midfield.
Additionally, it will be fascinating to see who can deputise for Lookman in that centre attacking midfield role. Chukwueze currently deputises but Chelle doesn’t seem to believe Chukwueze can handle the technical requirements of that role in high stake matches.
In defence, Obinna Igboke of Enugu Rangers could be utilised as a right fullback. If so, let’s see what he brings to the Unity Cup.
And the goalkeeping department sees Arthur Okonkwo hoping to claim the number one shirt.
All in all, a pretty decent set of lists .
Ola Aina is currently injured.
Why on earth would Ebenezer be dropped from the friendly but Yusuf was invited???
Ebenezer is the future of Super Eagles midfield.
I watch him play. Quality baller.
Another players that should have been invited are Marcus Abraham and Anthony Dennis. Specifically for the unity cup.
It is well.
Other than that, nice friendly list.
(The unity cup is a joke. Or accurately said, inviting homebased players is a waste of time).