Connect with us

National Teams

Unity Cup: Eric Chelle justifies squad rotation, emphasizes talent development

Published

on

Unity Cup: Eric Chelle justifies squad rotation, emphasizes talent development

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has offered a clear explanation for his squad selection ahead of the 2025 Unity Cup Tournament in London, citing player development and tactical experimentation as top priorities.

Chelle, who took charge of the Super Eagles earlier this year, has opted to leave out several high-profile players, including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, from the 25-man roster.

Instead, he has blended experienced internationals like Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi, Stanley Nwabali, and Ahmed Musa with a promising group of nine home-based players.

Speaking to Nigeria Football Federation Communications (NFF Comms), Chelle outlined the strategic intent behind his decisions.

“We’re looking forward to taking part in the Unity Cup as it will give us the chance to try out a few new players in different roles. It will help us strengthen our squad before the matches in September and October,” he said.

Ahmed Musa, Nigeria’s most-capped player, is expected to captain the side, lending leadership and international experience to a squad designed for experimentation and long-term depth building.

The Unity Cup, hosted at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, West London, features a competitive lineup including Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.

The tournament kicks off on Tuesday, May 27, with Trinidad & Tobago taking on Jamaica in the first semi-final. Nigeria will reignite their storied West African rivalry with Ghana the following day, Wednesday, May 28.

The third-place match and the final are both scheduled for Saturday, May 31, as the four nations battle for the inaugural Unity Cup crown.

author avatar
Samuel Ahmadu
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
Continue Reading
.

Mobile applications

Our mobile app is optimized for your phone. Download it for free!

Connect With Us

© 2025, nigeriafootball | All Rights Reserved.