The Super Eagles have officially opened camp in London ahead of the 2026 Unity Cup, with several players and members of the coaching staff on ground, Soccernet.ng reports.
Fourteen players have already arrived for the four-nation tournament that will be staged at The Valley Stadium, home of Charlton Athletic..
Head coach Éric Chelle travelled to England on Friday alongside several Nigeria Premier Football League players and members of his backroom staff as preparations began for the semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on Tuesday, May 26.
The early arrivals include former Arsenal academy goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, FC Porto forward Terem Moffi, Marseille midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi, Hamburger SV winger Philip Otele and Millwall attacker Femi Azeez. Otele trained with Arsenal as a 14-year-old while Okonkwo spent 15 years with the Gunners, coming through the youth ranks before leaving in 2024.
Okonkwo’s arrival has generated major attention after Chelle left out regular goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye for the tournament. The Wrexham shot-stopper, who previously spent years in Arsenal’s youth system before moving into senior football, is now in line to make his senior Super Eagles debut.
Femi Azeez, voted the Player of the Season in the Championship this term, is also among the fresh faces invited by Chelle as the Malian tactician uses the Unity Cup to test several new players outside the FIFA international window.
The atmosphere at the training base has been lively, with players undergoing fitness drills and tactical sessions ahead of the opening fixture against Zimbabwe.
Unity Cup: NPFL stars join foreign-based professionals in Chelle experiment
Chelle’s squad for the Unity Cup carries a strong blend of overseas professionals and home-based talents, with the coach determined to widen Nigeria’s player pool before the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Among the NPFL players already in camp are Shooting Stars forward Ayobami Junior, Rivers United defender Elias Ochobi, Rangers duo Chibueze Oputa and Obinna Igboke, as well as late defensive call-up Tijani Al Ameen.
Veteran midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is expected to arrive shortly and will serve as one of the leaders of the youthful squad. Other players still expected in London include Moses Simon, Raphael Onyedika, Bruno Onyemaechi, Akor Adams and goalkeeper Francis Uzoho.
Chelle also handed a recall to Genk winger Yira Sor as he looks to add pace and direct attacking options to his experimental side.
The Super Eagles are defending champions of the Unity Cup and will begin this year’s campaign against Zimbabwe before a possible final against either Jamaica or India on May 30.
Nigeria’s first official training session is scheduled to take place later tonight as Chelle intensifies preparations for what could become an important scouting platform for several emerging stars hoping to establish themselves in the national team setup.
