Osimhen, Okoye, Lookman to face Portugal, Poland in pre-World Cup friendlies

Super Eagles Captain, Wilfred Ndidi, former Arsenal goalkeeper, Arthur Okonkwo and Akor Adams have been listed by Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, for the Unity Cup billed to hold in London later this month.
 
Defending champions, Nigeria, will face Zimbabwe, Jamaica and India in this year’s Unity Cup at the Charlton Athletic Stadium, London.
 
The Unity Cup is one of the events listed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to help Chelle in rebuilding the Super Eagles after their disastrous campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
 
The Super Eagles will also meet Portugal and Poland next month in continuation of the process.
 
Chelle named two different teams for the two competitions, but Skipper Ndidi, Adams and a few others appear in both lists.
 
For the Unity Cup that will have a semifinal and final between May 26 and 30, Chelle has selected Ndidi, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, defenders Bruno Onyemaeachi and Igoh Ogbu, forwards Moses Simon, Adams, Terem Moffi and 20 other players.
 
The Super Eagles will file out against the Warriors of Zimbabwe at The Valley on May 26, with victory to propel them to the final against the winner of the clash between Jamaica and India, which holds at the same venue on May 27.
 
The competition provides Okonkwo the opportunity to debut for Nigeria. Also in the team are defenders Emmanuel Fernandez, midfielders Raphael Onyedika, Tochukwu Nnadi and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, as well as forward Rafiu Durosinmi, who is also joining the group for the first time.
 
Home-boys Michael Atata (goalkeeper), Elias Ochobi, Chibueze Oputa, Obinna Igboke (defenders), and Aderemi Adeoye, Ayobami Junior, and Tosin Oyedokun (midfielders) are also called.
 
Among the 24 players listed for the friendly games against Poland and Portugal are Ndidi, Alex Iwobi, Okoye, Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Frank Onyeka and Alhassan Yusuf, as well as Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Paul Onuachu.
 
The three-time African champions, who have been drawn to face Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau in the race to next summer’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, will tackle hosts Poland at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on June 3, before flying to Portugal to face 2026 World Cup-bound Portugal at the Estadio Dr Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on June 10.