Ifeanyi Udeze Urges New Super Eagles Players to Seize Unity Cup Opportunity

Former Nigerian international Ifeanyi Udeze has urged the new players invited to the Super Eagles squad to make the most of their opportunity at the 2026 Unity Cup in London.

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle included several fresh faces in his squad for the tournament, with a number of players hoping to impress ahead of Nigeria’s clash against Zimbabwe.

Among the invited players are Wilfred Ndidi, Francis Uzoho, Bruno Onyemaechi, Igoh Ogbu, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, and Terem Moffi, alongside several home-based stars and younger talents.

Speaking with Brila FM, Udeze said the tournament presents a major platform for the newcomers to prove themselves and convince Chelle that they deserve a place in the national team setup.

“This is a big opportunity for the new players to prove their worth and convince Chelle that they merit their place in the team,” Udeze said.

“I just hope the new players who will be selected for the game against Zimbabwe will turn up. I wish them all the very best.”

The former PAOK defender believes the Unity Cup squad reflects Chelle’s intention to experiment with new players and assess more options within the Super Eagles pool.

Nigeria will face Zimbabwe in the semi-finals at Charlton Athletic’s The Valley Stadium in London on May 26, with either Jamaica or India awaiting in the final should the Super Eagles progress.

Several NPFL players have also been included in the squad, while there is strong interest surrounding goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who recently switched international allegiance from England to Nigeria and received his maiden senior call-up.

For the upcoming glamour friendlies against Poland and Portugal, Chelle is expected to rely on a stronger and more experienced squad.

Victor Osimhen headlines the list alongside Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Paul Onuachu, while the midfield features Alex Iwobi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, and Wilfred Ndidi.

Defensively, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi are expected to provide stability as Nigeria continues preparations for future competitive fixtures under Chelle.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.

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