Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle could be forced into making a late captaincy decision ahead of the Super Eagles’ Unity Cup semi-final clash against Zimbabwe in London on Tuesday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Eagles arrived for the four-nation invitational tournament as defending champions after lifting the Unity Cup title last year, but preparations for the latest edition have been slightly disrupted by the absence of senior figures in camp.
Nigeria will face Zimbabwe at The Valley Stadium in London with Chelle relying heavily on a squad made up of home-based players and emerging talents from clubs across Europe. The former Mali coach, however, included experienced duo Wilfred Ndidi and Moses Simon to provide leadership and stability for the younger members of the squad.
But as of Monday morning, neither player had reported to camp. Both stars missed the team’s second official training session on Sunday evening, leaving uncertainty over whether they would participate in Monday’s final workout before the semi-final showdown.
Their absence has opened the door for a temporary change in leadership within the squad.
With several fresh faces in camp and only a handful of established internationals available, goalkeeper Francis Uzoho has emerged as one of the leading candidates to wear the captain’s armband.
The Omonia Nicosia goalkeeper remains one of the longest-serving players currently with the squad. Uzoho made his senior Nigeria debut in 2017 and went on to become the Super Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Speaking during Nigeria’s pre-match press conference in London, the 27-year-old admitted he would be proud to captain the national team if chosen by Chelle.
“I'm a sitting captain, I'm sitting for this match for Wilfred Ndidi,” Uzoho said. “It's a honour playing so long for this national team, representing my country. Eventually, I'm about to have the band (captain's), if the coach picks me for the game.
“So, it's an honour to me. So I actually appreciate and it also makes me realise and reflect on my efforts and my hard work on this past year. So, I'm very happy.”
Super Eagles: Okonkwo pushing for debut opportunity
Although Uzoho appears to be the senior figure within the squad, the former Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper may still have to settle for a place on the bench when Nigeria face Zimbabwe.
Highly-rated goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo is strongly tipped to make his senior Super Eagles debut in the Unity Cup semi-final following a remarkable season in England with Wrexham AFC.
The 24-year-old, born in London to Nigerian parents, previously represented England at youth level, featuring for the Young Lions’ Under-16, Under-17 and Under-18 teams. However, FIFA approved his nationality switch in April 2026, officially clearing him to represent Nigeria at senior level.
Okonkwo’s rise has been driven largely by his performances in the English Championship. The towering 6ft 6in goalkeeper, who came through the academy system at Arsenal, established himself as Wrexham’s first-choice goalkeeper during the Championship campaign.
He kept 10 clean sheets in 39 league appearances, earning praise for his commanding presence, shot-stopping ability and composure under pressure in one of Europe’s most physically demanding leagues.
Chelle’s selection plans for the Unity Cup have also increased Okonkwo’s chances of starting immediately.
Regular first-choice goalkeepers Stanley Nwabali and Maduka Okoye were deliberately left out of the squad as the coaching staff use the tournament to test new players and evaluate backup options ahead of crucial Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA World Cup qualifiers later this year.
Okonkwo also strengthened his case by arriving early at Nigeria’s London training camp. His early arrival allowed him additional sessions with Chelle’s technical crew and more time to build understanding with the defenders expected to start against Zimbabwe.
That preparation, combined with his recent club form and fresh international eligibility, now places him in a strong position to become the latest goalkeeper to debut for the Super Eagles on one of Nigerian football’s biggest community stages in London.
