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Chelle Leads 28‑Man Super Eagles to London for Unity Cup Defence as AIK Blocks Yohanna — Okonkwo, 12 Debutants, and Seven NPFL Stars Headline Experimental Squad
Head coach Eric Chelle will lead an experimental 28‑man Super Eagles squad to London on Friday, May 23, for the 2026 Unity Cup defence.
Eric Chelle is taking an experimental Super Eagles squad to London. The Unity Cup has never been about the established stars, and the Franco‑Malian coach has made good on his April promise to use the tournament as a laboratory. On Friday, May 23, a 28‑man group — a blend of seven home‑based NPFL players and 21 foreign‑based professionals — will depart for the English capital, and 12 of them have never worn the green and white of Nigeria before.
The list of debutants is long and revealing. Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, who completed his international switch from England, is the most recognisable name. But there is also Irish‑born forward Owen Oseni, the first player from the Republic of Ireland ever invited to the Super Eagles, and Sweden‑based teenager Zadok Yohanna — at least for a few hours. AIK Fotboll blocked Yohanna's release, arguing the tournament falls outside the FIFA calendar and that the player is still in the final stage of rehabilitation. Chelle reacted quickly, adding KRC Genk winger Collins Yira Sor and Shooting Stars defender Tijani Al‑Ameen, pushing the squad from 27 to 28.
The NPFL contingent is the spine of this experiment. Michael Atata, Aderemi Adeoye, and Tosin Oyedokun — all from Ikorodu City — join Enugu Rangers pair Chibueze Oputa and Obinna Igboke, Rivers United's Elias Ochobi, and Shooting Stars playmaker Ayobami Junior. Chelle's scouting tour through Nigerian league grounds has translated directly into call‑ups, and for these seven, the Unity Cup is the chance of a lifetime.
There has been a shake‑up between the posts. Established first‑choice goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye were dropped, leaving Francis Uzoho, Okonkwo, and NPFL breakout star Michael Atata to compete for the gloves. It is a gamble, but it signals that no position is safe under Chelle.
The Tournament and the Road Ahead
The 2026 Unity Cup will be played from May 26 to May 30 at Charlton Athletic's historic home, The Valley. Nigeria, the three‑time defending champions, face Zimbabwe in the first semi‑final on May 26 at 7:30pm BST. Jamaica and India meet the following day. The winners will contest the final on May 30, with a third‑place playoff earlier that evening.
While this experimental squad defends the trophy, a very different group of Super Eagles will be preparing for high‑profile friendlies in June. Chelle has named a separate squad for those matches — against Poland in Warsaw (June 3) and Portugal in Leiria (June 10) — featuring Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze. The contrast is deliberate. One squad is for discovery; the other is for refinement.
For the 28 heading to London, the message is clear: impress, and the door to the senior side stays open. For Chelle, the Unity Cup is the clearest expression yet of his philosophy — talent over reputation, hunger over history. The experiment begins on Friday.
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