Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has confirmed that key attackers Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman will not be available for Nigeria’s upcoming international friendly matches against Poland and Portugal in June.
The coach made the announcement shortly after guiding Nigeria to a successful Unity Cup title defence with an impressive 3-0 victory over Jamaica at The Valley Stadium in London. Alhassan Yusuf scored twice, while captain Terem Moffi added the third goal as the Super Eagles produced a dominant display to lift the trophy.
Despite the positive result, Chelle revealed that his squad will face several challenges ahead of the friendlies, including visa issues affecting some players and the absence of two of Nigeria’s biggest stars.
“We have two games against Poland and Portugal, and now I have lots of problems as some players don’t have visa forms – Tijani, Yuusf. The most important is we will miss two players because, Victor Osimhen, he has maybe to change a club. I prefer that he stays at his house, because if he plays, he’s not at 100%, this is not good. And Lookman is very tired, and Atletico has asked us to let him go. We will travel with 18 players, and we will see after Poland and Portugal.”
Osimhen’s absence is linked to uncertainty surrounding his club future, with the striker touted to complete a transfer during the summer window. Eric Chelle believes the forward should focus on his next move rather than risk playing without being fully fit. Lookman, meanwhile, has been granted time off after a demanding season, following a request from his club.
Eric Chelle: World Cup Pain Fuels Poland, Portugal Challenge
Although Nigeria will travel with a reduced squad, Eric Chelle remains determined to test his team against two strong European opponents. The former Mali coach insisted that the Super Eagles will approach both matches with confidence and a fighting mentality.
“We definitely go to make a fight, to make a war. If we win, we win; if we lose, we lose. They have to work on us, they have to beat us in these two games. Poland, this is a good team. Portugal, maybe the best team in the world. This is a great challenge for us. For sure, I want to go to their own country and beat them, because I’m sad I didn’t go to the World Cup. Maybe it will be something very good for me.”
Nigeria will face Poland at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on June 3 before taking on Portugal on June 10. The venue for the clash against Portugal is yet to be confirmed.
The match against Portugal will serve as the European side’s final outing before they travel to the United States, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Poland, like Nigeria, failed to secure qualification for the tournament.
The Super Eagles head into the June fixtures with confidence after retaining the Unity Cup title in convincing fashion. Chelle will now use the friendlies as another opportunity to assess his squad and continue building a competitive team for future international competitions.
