Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle has named two separate squads for Nigeria’s upcoming international engagements in May and June, with Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi and captain Wilfred Ndidi all featuring in the selections released by the Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday. 

While Ndidi leads a largely experimental side for the 2026 Unity Cup in London, the bigger names return for high-profile friendlies against Poland and Portugal in Europe next month.

For the Unity Cup, which holds at The Valley home of Charlton Athletic between May 26 and 30, Chelle has named a 27-man squad built around a blend of established hands and fresh faces. Ndidi, Francis Uzoho, Moses Simon, Terem Moffi and Akor Adams are among the familiar figures in the group.

The most notable new addition is goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo of Wrexham FC, who recently switched his international allegiance from England to Nigeria and earns his first senior call-up. Seven players from the Nigeria Premier Football League are also included, among them Michael Atata of Ikorodu City, Rivers United’s Elias Ochobi, and Enugu Rangers pair Chibueze Oputa and Obinna Igboke, reflecting Chelle’s continued effort to assess domestic talent.

Nigeria will open their title defence against Zimbabwe in the semi-final on May 26, with the winners advancing to the final against either Jamaica or India.

For the June friendlies, Chelle has assembled a stronger 24-man squad with his most decorated foreign-based stars recalled. Osimhen returns to lead the attack after his season with Galatasaray, joined by Lookman of Atletico Madrid, Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze of Fulham, Paul Onuachu and Moses Simon. Ndidi captains the midfield alongside Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, Tochukwu Nnadi and Alhassan Yusuf. Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Semi Ajayi provide defensive cover, with Maduka Okoye, Okonkwo and Uzoho sharing goalkeeping duties. Notably, Stanley Nwabali has again been overlooked, while Ola Aina misses out due to injury.

Nigeria will face Poland at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on June 3 before travelling to Leiria to take on Portugal on June 10, in what will be Portugal’s final preparatory fixture ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Both matches are expected to serve as important tests for a side that failed to qualify for the World Cup and is now focused on rebuilding momentum.

The Super Eagles have been drawn alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau in the group stage of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Chelle’s dual-squad approach signals a clear philosophy: use the Unity Cup to widen the national team’s player pool and reward both domestic performers and previously uncapped talents, while reserving the full-strength side for the stiffer challenges against European opposition in June. With AFCON qualification on the horizon, the coming weeks represent one of the most consequential stretches of the Franco-Malian tactician’s tenure at the helm of Nigerian football.