Seven NPFL stars, Swedish gem, England hotties: Meet the 12 newbies in Super Eagles’ Unity Cup Squad

Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle announced his 27-man squad for the 2026 Unity Cup on Wednesday, Soccernet.ng reports.

​The tournament, which kicks off on May 26, will feature four teams: Jamaica, India, Zimbabwe, and hosts Nigeria. As the defending champions, the Super Eagles will be looking to retain their title in London later this month.

​Ahead of the competition, Chelle confirmed he would hand call-ups to several fresh faces. He stayed true to his word, naming 12 uncapped players in his final selection.

​There is a heavy Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) presence, with seven home-based players making the cut. Space was also made for a few stars plying their trade in the English Football League (EFL), alongside Zadok Yohanna, who has turned heads with his eye-catching displays for AIK in the Swedish Allsvenskan.

Soccer ​Meet Éric Chelle’s New Boys for the Unity Cup

​The NPFL Stars

​For all the NPFL players invited, this tournament marks their first taste of international football with the Super Eagles.

​Ikorodu City dominates the local contingent with three players: Michael Atata, Aderemi Adeoye, and Tosin Oyedokun. Reigning champions Rangers International feature two players—Chibueze Oputa and Obinna Igboke—while Rivers United’s Elias Ochobi and Shooting Stars’ Ayobami Junior complete the local list.

​Ayobami is currently one of the most creative players in the NPFL, sitting comfortably at the top of the playmaker charts with 13 assists. Ikorodu City’s Oyedokun is also highly rated domestically, having racked up four goals and four assists this season.

​His teammate, Michael Atata, has arguably been the finest goalkeeper in the league, keeping an impressive 16 clean sheets. Following a string of brilliant performances for Ikorodu City, his call-up is fully merited.

​Defensively, Rangers’ Oputa has registered the highest number of assists (6) for a defender in the NPFL this season. Though it is the young right-back’s debut campaign, he has already made a massive impact.

Meanwhile, Rivers United’s Ochobi is another exciting youngster who has brought consistency, solidity, and an incredible work rate to his club this year.

​Zadok Yohanna and Pisa’s Durosinmi

​These are two young Nigerian prospects tipped for big things. Zadok Yohanna is already attracting interest from European heavyweights due to his stellar performances for AIK. Quick, lethal in one-on-one situations, and deadly in the penalty box, the 18-year-old winger has contributed two goals and three assists in just seven Allsvenskan appearances.

​On the flip side, Rafiu Durosinmi is one of the surprise inclusions. While highly regarded for his raw quality, things haven’t quite clicked for him at Italian side Pisa recently.

Durosinmi is an imposing forward who uses his frame exceptionally well, hass a powerful shot, and likes to drop deep to influence the game rather than just lurking in the box. It will be fascinating to see how he adapts to the Super Eagles setup.

​The EFL Trio

​One of the biggest shocks on Chelle’s list is Plymouth striker Owen Oseni, given that he features in League One. With seven goals and five assists in 27 games over the just-concluded campaign, his inclusion has certainly raised a few eyebrows.

​Femi Azeez, however, arrives on the back of a standout Championship season. He registered 11 goals and eight assists in 35 appearances for Millwall—form that has linked him with Premier League outfits like Ipswich Town, Everton, and Aston Villa. Azeez is an intelligent crosser, a direct dribbler, and possesses an excellent eye for goal.

​Finally, Arthur Okonkwo is the third EFL star on the list. Currently with Wrexham, the Arsenal-trained shot-stopper is fresh off a brilliant debut campaign in the Championship, keeping 10 clean sheets in 39 league games.

Imposing, agile, and capable of pulling off world-class reflex saves, Okonkwo will be eager to make his international debut for Nigeria.