Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle reveals what he plans for Nigeria’s Unity Cup participation
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle says he is full of hope as Nigeria prepares to take part in the Unity Cup tournament in London, where they will face Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Chelle, who was appointed in January 2025, has already led Nigeria through two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers – a 2-0 away win over Rwanda and a 1-1 home draw against Zimbabwe. While the win in Kigali was encouraging, the result in Uyo left some fans concerned about the team’s chances of reaching the World Cup in USA, Canada, and Mexico.
With the qualifiers set to resume in September, Chelle sees the Unity Cup as a valuable opportunity to prepare his team and test new options.
“We’re looking forward to taking part in the Unity Cup as it will give us the chance to try out a few new players in different roles, helping us to strengthen our squad before the matches in September and October,” Chelle said in a statement released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The coach believes that the friendly tournament will allow the Super Eagles to improve team chemistry and work on tactics in a less pressured environment.
Vice captain William Troost-Ekong also backed the importance of the tournament, describing it as a good time for the players to regroup and refocus.
“This is a great tournament for us to reunite and continue strategising for the upcoming World Cup qualifying games,” the experienced centre-back said.
The NFF confirmed that all matches will take place at the Gtech Community Stadium, home of English Premier League side Brentford FC.
The Unity Cup is expected to offer strong competition and a platform for the Super Eagles to build momentum and sharpen their form ahead of key qualification games later this year.
