Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has revealed why he wasn't a part of Nigeria's 2026 Unity Cup-winning team, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 28-year-old became a regular figure for Vitor Pereira's side towards the end of the season, scoring a famous brace against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on his 100th appearance for Nottingham Forest.
His performance until the end of the Premier League season put him in pole position to be included in Chelle's squad, alongside Celtic's free-scoring Kelechi Iheanacho.
However, Chelle opted for Terem Moffi, and Pisa's lanky forward, Rafiu Durosinmi, who made his debut against Zimbabwe last Wednesday.
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Why Taiwo Awoniyi wasn't at the 2026 Unity Cup
The former Liverpool striker has come out to clear the air, claiming he was contacted for a call-up for the competition at Charlton Athletic's Valley ground, but he declined for personal reasons.
“I was supposed to be in the Super Eagles camp, but I opted out because of personal reasons I have to attend to,” Awoniyi said in an interview with SportsBoom.
“We have lots of talents in the Super Eagles, so for me, everyone that is in the team for the June friendlies is as good as me, just as I'm as good as them,” he concluded.
In Awoniyi's absence, Femi Azeez stole the show in the semi-final against Zimbabwe. The Millwall winger scored a brace against the Warriors before stepping up with an assist for Terem Moffi in the final.
In the final, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi popped up with a brace against Jamaica, while Moffi rose highest to add a third, heading home from Azeez's cross.
The victory confirmed Eric Chelle's Unity Cup success for a second year running with the Super Eagles, after first achieving the feat by defeating Jamaica on penalties last year at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium.
Awoniyi is set to enter the final year of his contract at Nottingham Forest, and could be sold this summer, considering renewal talks are currently on hold.
