Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has revealed that Victor Osimhen and Ademola will feature in next month’s high-profile international friendly matches with Poland and Portugal.
After the Unity Cup, the Super Eagles will take on Poland on Wednesday, June 3 before facing Portugal on Wednesday June 10.
Both Osimhen and Lookman were included in the squad for the friendlies by Chelle.
Chelle Explains Reasons For Osimhen, Lookman Absence
But speaking after guiding the Super Eagles to lift a fourth Unity Cup title, thanks to a 3-0 win against Jamaica in the final on Saturday, Chelle said the two former African Players of the Year will miss both fixtures due to different reasons.
“For now we have two games, Poland and Portugal and I have lots of problems because some players have visa issues, players like (Samson) Tijani and (Abdullahi) Yusuf,” Chelle said.
“But most importantly we miss two players because Victor Osimhen maybe he is about to change club so I prefer he stays at home because if he plays and is not at 100 percent is not good.
“For Lookman he is very tired and Atletico ask us to excuse him. We will travel with 18 players and we will see what happens after Poland and Portugal.
Also Read: Unity Cup: We’ve Found A Star For The Future —Sodje Reacts To Azeez Super Eagles Debut
Chelle Target Wins Against Poland, Portugal
Looking ahead of the encounters, Chelle described it as a very good challenge for his players.
“We will go to the two games to fight and if we win we win and if we lose we lose. They (Poland and Portugal) have to work to beat us, Poland is a good team, Portugal maybe the best team in the world, so this is a great challenge for us and I want to go to their countries and beat them because I’m sad we wouldn’t be at the World Cup and maybe this would be something very good for me.”
Osimhen, Lookman’s Performance For Galatasaray, Atletico
Osimhen was instrumental for Galatasaray’s Turkish Super Lig title win, contributing 15 goals in 22 appearances.
Lookman, who only joined Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window, helped the Spanish club to the semifinals of the Champions League and the final of the Copa del Rey.
The UEFA Europa League title winner, scored four goals in 12 league appearances and bagged two goals, two assists after featuring in eight matches.
By James Agberebi
20 Comments
I still maintain we play Portugal and Poland with the B team perhaps with a few additions in defense.. the B team has a better midfield than the A team so let’s leave it and see how it goes against top teams .. good luck to all SE fans
Correct talk dis man. Dis is what I was also try to told Couch Chells
I know this is friendly matches but I think players to choose matches is very bad for a national team player. If Nigeria had qualified for the world cup, will they say they are tired or they want to change club?. This is rubbish.
Hahahaha….
Na now day dey break for your side???
Something the legendary finidi george tried letting you guys know since….
What do you think caused the burst up between the disrespectful osimhen and the legendary finidi….
Monki goat, yuh har a fowl dog
dere ees noting disrespecfool abt Osimhen, ees jus like pot calling kettle black
dere ees no sush English as “burst up” hehehe, de ting ees “bust up” yuh fool lmaoo
But Nigeria did not qualify so they have to be active in making major decisions. A lot of you don’t understand back office matters. You just judge people because you have never been exposed to such capacity as these guys especially Monkey that should be ban from this forum for childish behaviors.
McVintus how far guy? How tings be for Scotland dere? pls said helo to McVitalis for Hedinburgh abeg lmaoo
Hahahahaha…
Change club bawo?
Baba is clubing round lagos with their bobrisky, very dark man and tunde ednut…..
Osino is like he wants to change club….
Hahahahaha…
Change club ko, change diapers ni….
Hahahaha
Good for the young players to show their abilities like this we will know the cocky one’s and the real deal
Couple of elite young ones added to Osimhen ,Mola and co will benefit us big time
The two friendlies is an opportunity for some players to step into the big shoes and announce their selves to the world and Nigeria football loving fans. Eric Chelle needs more support from all to unearth more or even greater players than Osimhen and lookman.
This is a good reason though. Though, oshimen usually do this which can be very dangerous
But most importantly we miss two players because Victor Osimhen maybe he is about to change club so I prefer he stays at home because if he plays and is not at 100 percent is not good.
Bullshit!Lookman tired?He hardly play beyond 68 mins for Athletico Madrid,tired my foot!
Meanwhile,so players going to the world cup didn’t have a busy season with their club? Such a lame excuse!
Osimhen changing club excuse is hilarious,so does it mean,none of the Polish and Portuguese players listed for the games are moving clubs.
Absolute nonsense, this is the reason I don’t feel sorry for their world Cup miss, they don’t deserve the world Cup,
Very shameless and irresponsible footballers.
After failing to qualify to two consecutive world cup, you are still selecting games.
Disrespectful idiots, they were both arrogant and DISAPPRECIATFULL to their clubs who made them, in serious games for their country, they couldn’t play penalties in two most important games of their national team carea. And they disgraced them selves at the afcon against Mozambique, even when they were leading,
Unprofessional idiots, with no sense of respect and accountability. Okocha, holiseh, kanu, all fitured in our friendlies.
The last friendly match osihmen played was when he was struggling to establish him self as a player, it was the game against Poland and Brazil, he put everything, after he has been recognized this idiots has never honored any friendly match for eagles, even stylishly stayed out of 2021 nations Cup, something a Ronaldo or a Neymar can never do to Brazil.
Disrespectful idiots.
Because of fluky African player of the year both of you have suddenly become a source of stupidity arrogance and ingratitude.
If you don’t have passion for nigeria you will never touch any trophy in Africa. I have nothing to lose I already won three afcon and defeated world champions in the world cup.
Common sense should tell you that beating Portugal and Poland will heal some wounds in the mind of nigeria football fans.
Footballer that admires musicians and skit makers, while you are failing in your Duties.
Products of abadabidi
Who is holiseh?
colin di or wat? Yuh har a very very fullish and mumu man!
It look like idiot is yur new favrite words, abi na now yuh just learned de word ne? very useless goat!
Wereey!
Both are flimsy excuses. If Nigeria had qualified for the world cup, would lookman ask to be left out because of tiredness or would osimhen miss the game because he was scouting for club?
Most of our senior players are in their late 20s. We need to start building a new team straight off. The absence of some top players is a blessing in disguise. I want to see Azeez, Yusuf, Otele, Nnadi amd Okonkwo against Portugal. Win or lose, the match is good for the team
These are criminal excuses, really. Did any of them reach the UCL final by playing more games than usual?
I really blame Chelle for giving out 2 lists 5 years ago and 3 days to the first friendly, the “super stars” are pulling out.
That was disruptive to do, in every sense of the word.
Now, the other “big boys” will arrive Poland from tomorrow, 2 days to the game when Chelle had worked with plenty more for more than a week but are not in the new list.
“If we lose” is already a thought for Chelle whose only “loss” was a “friendly” against Egypt after, again, many player arrived 24 hours to the game.
Anyway, they have one more afcon to play out this rubbish and exit the national team.
They should not reason 2028 afcon oh.
They should all bow out next year.
My grouse is why are they telling us now.
Fortunately, Portugal game is on the 10th so hopefully, Chelle can alter the list for that one.
@Sly, these excuses make you die in laughter. They think we will buy their lie. We should try to move past these overrated players. I sigh.
Sly how far? Wish wan come be grouse again guy? lmaoo