Nigeria Name 24-Man Squad for Poland and Portugal Friendlies: Osimhen, Lookman and Okoye Return

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has announced a 24-man Super Eagles squad for two high-profile international friendlies against Poland and Portugal in June 2026, with several prominent players returning to the setup after their absence from the Unity Cup selection.

According to the Super Eagles official announcement on May 20, 2026, the squad features the return of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, Atletico Madrid forward Ademola Lookman, Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, and Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye — all of whom were left out of the earlier 27-man Unity Cup squad that prioritised squad rotation and experimentation.

Nigeria will face Poland at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 8:45 PM local time. The second fixture takes place one week later, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, when the Super Eagles travel to the Estadio Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa in Leiria to face Portugal. The match against Portugal carries added significance, as it serves as the host nation’s final warm-up fixture before their participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

Osimhen, who has scored 20 goals across competitions in each of the past two seasons for Galatasaray, leads the attacking line alongside Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze of Fulham, Moses Simon of Paris FC, Paul Onuachu of Trabzonspor, Akor Adams of Sevilla, and Terem Moffi of FC Porto.

The full 24-man squad is as follows — Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy), Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England), Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus). Defenders: Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Emmanuel Fernandez (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland). Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England), Frank Onyeka (Coventry FC, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas FC, Turkey), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (SS Lazio, Italy), Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympique Marseille, France), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA). Forwards: Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham FC, England), Moses Simon (Paris FC, France), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey), Akor Adams (Sevilla FC, Spain), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray FC, Turkey), Terem Moffi (FC Porto, Portugal).

The selection marks a clear shift in approach from Chelle compared to the Unity Cup squad, where Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye were both absent. The June call-ups reflect a more competitive configuration as Nigeria seeks meaningful preparation against top-tier opposition. Portugal, ranked among Europe’s elite and managed alongside the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, represent a stern test of Nigeria’s readiness at the highest level.

The strategic context for these fixtures extends beyond the friendlies themselves. Nigeria have been drawn into a qualifying group alongside Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and Chelle is expected to use the June matches to evaluate and solidify his first-choice combinations ahead of those competitive fixtures. The results and performances against Poland and Portugal are likely to inform selection decisions for the opening rounds of AFCON qualification.