Arthur Okonkwo, Owen Oseni, Femi Azeez Among 12 First-Time Super Eagles Call-Ups for 2026 Unity Cup

Eric Chelle has named 12 uncapped players in a 27-man Super Eagles squad ahead of the 2026 Unity Cup in London, a selection that draws from both the European football landscape and the domestic Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The Super Eagles official announcement, made on May 20, 2026, also confirmed the group would carry over into June friendlies against Poland and Portugal.

Headlining the overseas contingent is 24-year-old goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo of Wrexham FC, a former Arsenal academy product who stands 1.99 metres tall and recorded 11 clean sheets for his club this season. Okonkwo officially committed to Nigeria last week following the resolution of a FIFA eligibility process. His inclusion extends to the June fixtures against Poland and Portugal, underlining the confidence Chelle has placed in him from the outset.

Owen Oseni, a 23-year-old forward with Plymouth Argyle in England’s League One, becomes the first Irish-born player ever to receive a Super Eagles call-up — a historic milestone in Nigerian football. Oseni contributed 10 goals and three assists for Plymouth this season. Joining him in attack is Millwall’s Femi Azeez, 24, who registered 11 goals and seven assists in the English Championship, operating as a direct, physically imposing wide forward.

Philip Otele, 27, on loan at Hamburger SV in Germany from Basel, provides additional attacking versatility on the flanks. Rafiu Durosinmi, 23, rounds out the forward line from Italian football, where he has been developing his game at Serie A side Pisa FC. Despite scoring just one league goal this season, Durosinmi offers a direct aerial presence in the box. Samson Tijani, a defensive midfielder with FK Dukla Prague in the Czech top flight, completes the six overseas inclusions, brought in to provide structural discipline in central midfield.

Seven of the 12 debutants come directly from the NPFL, reflecting a deliberate effort to integrate domestic talent into the senior setup. Goalkeeper Michael Atata of Ikorodu City has been one of the standout performers in Nigerian club football this season, keeping 16 clean sheets for the Lagos-based side. Ayobami Junior of Shooting Stars has contributed 13 assists from midfield, helping power his side’s continental ambitions in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Ikorodu City provide two further inclusions in midfielders Tosin Oyedokun and Aderemi Adeoye, whose combination has been a key factor in the club’s strong home record across their first two seasons in the top flight. The defensive additions come from two clubs currently competing for the NPFL title on the final day of the season — Elias Ochobi of Rivers United and Chibueze Oputa of Enugu Rangers.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Zimbabwe next Tuesday, May 26, in what will serve as an early opportunity to assess how the newly assembled group performs under competitive conditions. The Unity Cup, held in London, has previously served as a platform for Nigeria to blood emerging talent ahead of more significant international windows. With World Cup qualification fixtures on the horizon, Chelle’s decision to introduce a large batch of new faces at this stage carries clear implications for the squad’s long-term composition.