Super Eagles coach Éric Chelle has opened the door of the national team to top players in the Nigeria Premier Football League and uncapped Nigerian players abroad ahead of the 2026 Unity Cup, which will be played at The Valley, home of Charlton Athletic in London, Sports Extra reports.
The Unity Cup is an invitational tournament played outside the FIFA international window, and Nigeria will defend the title they won last year against India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe when the 2026 edition takes place in London from May 26 to 30.
Buoyed by the opportunity to maintain momentum and further integrate new players into the Super Eagles, Chelle has hinted that NPFL stars and foreign-based, uncapped players will be given opportunities, while regulars will return for the June international friendlies against Portugal and Poland.
“The Unity Cup provides a platform to assess new players. I will comb Europe and invite new players of Nigerian descent, alongside those who were previously called up but never got the chance to feature. Top players from the Nigeria Premier Football League will also be considered, as I will be watching a number of domestic league games from now until the end of the season,” Chelle said.
“For the big warm-up games in June against Poland and Portugal, I will feature my first-team players. These are games that can push us up the global ranking if we win them,” the Franco-Malian added.
Now in its fourth edition, the Unity Cup will again bring together nations with strong diaspora communities in the United Kingdom.
Nigeria and Jamaica are expected to be among the leading contenders based on their rankings and pedigree. Nigeria are currently among the highest-ranked teams in the competition, alongside Jamaica, while Zimbabwe and India complete the line-up.
According to India Times, India’s participation marks a significant milestone, as it will be their first appearance in the Unity Cup.
The Asian side have not toured England in over two decades, with their last notable visit coming in 2002 when Bhaichung Bhutia captained the team in matches that included a fixture against Jamaica.
The Unity Cup will follow a knockout format, with semi-final winners advancing to the final and the losing teams contesting the third-place match.
Nigeria and Zimbabwe will clash in the opening semi-final, serving as a rematch following their recent 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying encounters.
The second semi-final will see Jamaica take on India, a fixture expected to deliver both on the pitch and in the stands.
The winners of the semi-finals will meet in the final on May 30, in what is expected to deliver the same mix of entertainment and culture that defined the 2025 edition.
Nigeria will aim to retain their title, Jamaica will seek redemption after last year’s final defeat, while India and Zimbabwe look to make their mark on the London stage.