Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has said he will use the 2026 Unity Cup to try out new players.
The Super Eagles will defend their Unity Cup title billed for Charlton Athletic’s The Valley stadium from May 26 to 30.
Other teams who will feature alongside the Super Eagles are India, Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
The Eagles will take on Zimbabwe in the semi-final while India and Jamaica will take on each other in the other last four tie.
Speaking ahead of the four-nation tournament, Chelle said he will scout Europe for players of Nigerian descent as well as top players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to execute the competition.
Also Read: Olise Should Be Representing Super Eagles, Not France –Oliseh
“The Unity Cup provides a platform to assess new players. I will comb Europe and invite new players of Nigerian descent, alongside those who were previously called up but never got the chance to feature,” Chelle told the Super Eagles media team.
“Top players from the Nigeria Premier Football League will also be considered as I will be watching a number of domestic league games from now until the end of the season.”
Aside from the Unity Cup, the Super Eagles will take on Poland and 2026 World Cup-bound Portugal in friendly games in June.
On which players he plans to use to execute both matches, he revealed it will be his first team stars.
“For the big warm up games in June against Poland and Portugal, I will feature my first team players. These are games that can push up the global ranking if we win them.”
By James Agberebi
15 Comments
It’s not just about featuring players but about trying out players in areas we are lacking alternatives . Especially the midfield. Whenever Ndidi or Iwobi not in team we struggle to high press and also maintain possession . ONYEDIKA HAS SHOWN he is not an SE material . We had so much faith in him but he has fail consistently ..so we need to look for a worthy alternative to Ndidi ..we need an upgrade to Iwobi. Someone who can keep possession and also pass well.. OTHER AREAS ARE OK
Hahahaha……a DM who has contributed 4 goals in 24 matches (11 starts) for the national team……a DM who is currently nominated for the POTY award in Belgium is not a SE material…… LMAOooo.
This has to be the joke of the year.
Did you see the disallowed goal he scored against Jordan from outside box in the last friendlies……that is what Ndidi has not been able to do in 80caps….. LMAOoo
Thank God you are nowhere near our national team.
Well Said @Dr. Drey
@Dr Grey ,I hv always agreed with your submissions but this time I will disagree vehemently . Do u remember our match against and how ONYEDIKA could cope with the intensity of the Moroccans..I believe if Ndidi was in that match Nigeria will have beaten morroco
Hahahahaha…..well, it is your belief.
Onyedika could not cope with the intensity of the Moroccans……LMAOooo….please tell us, who else on that pitch wearing a Nigerian jersey, was able to….??? Not even your coach could cope despite just watching from the bench.
In a match where we were rendered toothless by the shackling of our 2 most creative players Iwobi and Lookman and the starving of our most potent player in the 27-man squad (Osimhen) of service, I wonder what a creative and attacking liability like Ndidi would have done to make us score goals and win the game.
Maybe he would have replaced Nwabali in goal to help stop Morroco’s 5 PKs , because the last time I checked, the match was goaless after 120 minutes of hard labour. The whole team endure over 100 minutes of cluelessness only to fall to the nerves of penalties. So at what point was Ndidi’s magical feet supposed to swing victory our way…?
Once again…that disallowed goal Onyedika scored against Jordan from outside the box in the last friendlies is what Ndidi has not been able to do in 80 caps and 10 years in the national team.
A young DM who has contributed 4 goals in 11 starts for the national team and is currently nominated for the POTY award in Belgium is in every inch a SE material…… LMAOooo.
The earlier you and your coach make him the pivot of your midfield going forward, the better
The pivot that disappear in big matches. You’re still comparing ndidi and onyedika. Very funny. He is still not at his level.
And it’s funny to say ndidi will not do anything in that match. Funny.
You describe a game of football that way.
Sometimes Drey you just analyse biased on your feelings.
Onyedika is good but not there yet. And not at the level of ndidi for now.
More game time may give him that in the future
Hehehehehe…….I was expecting you to go ahead and tell us what Ndidi would have done to give Nigeria victory vs Morocco, but your unbiased mind failed you and failed you woefully…….LMAOooo.
I was expecting you to speak with facts, but it seems I am expecting too much from you.
The only thing that surprises me about your comment is how you have not, in your usual manner, found a way to link my position with Rohr’s sacking.
I guess Ndidi would have been the one spraying passes directly from DM to Osimhen after Lookman and Iwobi were sent to jail by Morocco’s hard press and double-teaming…….Or maybe he would have used his non-existent ball carrying capability to bulldoze his way into Morocco’s penalty area twice like Onyedika did vs Uganda and slam in goals for Nigeria since Osimhen was rendered incapable……LMAOooo…….Or are we not talking of the same Ndidi who can barely shoot on target from the edge of the 6-yard box…….LMAOooo
Okayyy…….It is Ndidi that doesn’t disappear in big matches right…….LMAOooo. Should I start counting to you the number of times Ndidi has cost us in big matches, or will you rather consult your own memory……LMAOooo?? Mr Unbiased mind….LMAOoo
Let’s not even go into how he tires out, as from the 65th minutes of competitive games these days.
The earlier you and your coach realise and accept Ndidi is the past and Onyedika the future of the base of the SE midfield, the better for y’all.
It seems y’all did not learn enough lessons from the 2026 WCQ failure and how recycling of weary, unwilling-to-run and out-of-steam legs contributed to our not making it to the World Cup
Onyedika is not at the level of Ndidi, but he’s repeatedly done what Ndidi has not been able to do in the national team for a whole decade……creating chances from deep, carrying the ball forward and scoring goals from range…….LMAOooo.
Have you watched Onyedika in this season’s UEFA Champions League at all…..??? I can almost bet you NEVER watched any game involving Club Brugge this season……that is why you speak with so much ignorance.
We now finally have a real ball-playing anchorman since Sunday Oliseh, but backward thinkers are still focused on flogging a dying horse back to life…….LMAOooo.
I have said it before and will say it again……the only reason Ndidi will continue to start games in the SE ahead of Onyedika is because of Seniority/Captain’s armband…..and we shall continue to hurt ourselves with that till we begin to be sensible.
No one is asking Ndidi to be kicked out of the SE….but he’s way past his sell-by date to still be starting him and forcing 90 minutes out of him, especially in competitive matches. It’s time to play the Keshi, Kanu, Yobo, Musa role of being the team captain from the bench, get 20 more caps coming on to shore up the midfield and retire gracefully from international football with 100caps plus.
If we have moved past his 2013 U17 mates in the national team, why are we still fooling ourselves about how much gas he’s got left in his tank….? Are we this blinded by sentiments…..????
The SE midfield needs new life, and it starts from handing its reins to the trio of Onyeka, Onyedika and Iwobi……..all ball-playing midfielders. It is on such a foundation modern day football is built, and that is how serious teams operate these days.
Spot on Drey.
Pls. Onyedika is more than a super eagles material but not like to like to Ndidi who is less a ball player from that position but more defensive.
Football has changed and we need more ball players at every department on the pitch.
I advice that since Ndidi is gradually coming to the end of his career, we shpuld try to fashion a way to cover for his defensive traits which is his A subject by getting more young players to partner or help Onyedika in the midfield especially with the defensive role. The young[ Onyedika ] man’s ball playing and distributing abilities from deep is second to none. Lets get Jude Agba of Maccabi Haifa in Isreal [ pls dnt say he is playing in Isreal ]. He is good defensively also and a vall carrier snd passer from deep too. A good formular with him and Onyedika will do so well in that engine room.
Again, before we should get Ethan Nwaneri whose switch to the Eagles will be so hard but sweet if we eventually succeed, lets not forget Isaac Saviour now playing for Al Ittihad in Egypt [ again, dnt say Egypt ] bcos that guy is so good in the midfield. I wonder why Eric Chelle seem to be shunning him after his first few involvements im Eagles trainings especially pre the last Unity Cup that we won. Does Chelle not found hiim good enough also or is it just hard luck that he has failed to fearure him in games since then? We need Isaac Saviour please, Mr. Chelle.
Big thanks to Chelle for his noce job with the tra, especially with the faith he has on all good players of Nigerian descent from wherever and for not minding their young ages which was the excuses of our former coaches that has ruined the provress of the team begore now.
My probable calluos for the upcoming Unity cup and other friendlies matches stsrting from June.
Marcus Abraham, Zadok, Otele, Ejuke, Njuma, Arthur Okonkwo, Felix Agu, Fredricks Benjamin, Isaac Saviour, Jude Agba, Fernandez, Onyedika, Nwaiwu, etc.
Thanks.
Why has everyone forgotten Gift Orban? Pls someone explain this.
@Tristan, Gift Orban, has conflict nationality issues. I think only him can clear this up publicly. Remember Togo communicated with NFF over his status when he was invited about a year or 2 ago, that he is a Togolese with backup docs and NFF may think it’s not worth the risk.
If ndidi has not been able to do that and what about what ndidi has been able to do which onyedika can’t do.
Different players with different qualities and different input they bring to the team.
What ndidi bring to the team is still far better than what onyedika brings presently. Yes he will grow but it’s funny that you can say or insinuate that onyedika brings more to eagles than ndidi.
He is nominated for poty in Belgium. And then?
Have we not seen players who have won such awards and they have been useless with national team.
Is onuachu not breaking records in turkey and brings little to eagles. Will you say he is more influential than oshimen or akor in the team.
Forget the argument of him being a poty nominee.
He is not at the level of ndidi yet..
Forget the goals he scored for the team..he should learn to help the team more..
It’s also funny to say ndidi can’t do anything in the Morocco match when one single player can influence a change in a match.
What about what Esther okorokwo did in the final of wafcon.
Common stop these school boy analyses
We are still waiting for you to tell us how Ndidi would have swung the Morocco match in Nigeria’s favour…………LMAOooooo
Please tell us the skillset he has that would have made it possible for him to replicate what Esther Okoronkwo did for the Super Falcons……LMAOooo.
What a baseless and spurious comparison……LMAOooo
Don’t just go blabbing with emotions…….provide facts, empirical evidence and verifiable proof of what you are saying.
So if you are asked to mention 5 players who’ve got magic in their legs and are capable of turning games around for Nigeria (more in the sense of snatching a victory when it’s seeming impossible), you will mention Ndidi right…….??? LMAOooo.
So please kindly back up your emotional outbursts with distinct and succinct explanations of how Ndidi would have swung the Morocco match in Nigeria’s favour, and give instances in his past 80 caps where he has single-handedly bailed us out of such tactical battles …….LMAOooo
A DM does not get nominated for the POTY award…..I repeat…..PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD…….for just having a face girls will die for………LMAOooo….sorry ehn, you cannot force us to forget that fact, no matter how emotional you want to get.
What Ndidi brings to the team is still far better than what Onyedika brings presently, yet you find it difficult to mention it/them……LMAooo……yet Onyedika in 11 starts has done what Ndidi hasn’t been able to do in 80 caps……..LMAooo.
Facts don’t lie my brother……LMAOOoo……Numbers too don’t lie…!!!
Mr Chelle please abeg you forget about ranking for now, we want you to groom and discover young talented Nigerian footballers who are ready to DIE for Nigeria. Majority of your first team players will soon leave the stage. We need the young ones to take over and qualify us for the next world cup. That is all we want.
I tire for e comment. One year from today, those so-called “first team” players will begin to decline national team call-ups or not even be listed.
Chelle forgets that after 10 African teams break “record” at the world cup in June, our rankings will inevitably fall due to non participation from us.
Other intercontinental nations will rise as well.
How will rankings matter in July then?
His comment was pissy and janjaweed
@Sly, Chelle is not shy to try the best fresh legs that money can buy. The Super Eagles will fly high to the sky.