By Irikefe Oghenetega Victor
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has outlined a clear plan for the coming months, he will use the 2026 Unity Cup as a testing ground for new talents while keeping his strongest first-team players for the high-profile June friendlies against Poland and Portugal.
Speaking on his selection strategy, Chelle said the Unity Cup (May 26–30 at The Valley, London) will give opportunities to fresh faces as Nigeria defends their title against India, Jamaica, and Zimbabwe.
“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. 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,” Chelle stated.
He made it clear that the big June warm-up matches will be reserved for his established senior players. “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 us up the global ranking if we win them.”
Chelle’s approach aims to blend youth and experience. He is actively scouting both NPFL talents and European-based players of Nigerian descent, with reported interest in uncapped prospects like Genoa’s Alexandro Mandali. The French coach also stressed he will resist external pressure when picking players for either tournament.
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