Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman will not feature in Nigeria’s upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal. Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle confirmed the development during the post-match conference after the Super Eagles won their fourth Unity Cup on Saturday.
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According to Chelle, Osimhen has been excused from the squad due to an ongoing transfer situation at his club, Galatasaray. The coach opted not to disrupt the striker during this crucial stage of his career.
“Victor is dealing with an important situation regarding his future,” Chelle said after Nigeria defeated Jamaica 3-0 to lift the Unity Cup trophy. “For me he is the type of player at 100 percent or not play at all.”
Chelle also insinuated that Osimhen might be aiming to change clubs ahead of next season, a situation the coach is not happy with.
“Victor Osimhen may have to change clubs, so I prefer that he stays where he is because if you play and you are not at 100 per cent, it is not good,” Chelle added.
As for Lookman, Chelle revealed the Atletico Madrid forward was tired following a demanding run of games at the club, and was granted leave to rest.
“Lookman is very tired, and Atalanta has asked us to release him,” Chelle explained.
The absence of both players would be a significant setback for the Super Eagles, who did not qualify for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. However, they would still need to play key friendlies against Portugal and Poland in preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers coming up in September.
Nigeria will face Poland at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw on June 3 before travelling to Leiria to take on Portugal at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa on June 10.
Nigeria to miss other key players for friendlies against Portugal and Poland
Aside the absence of the star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Nigeria’s Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle the team’s recent administrative challenges, with some players facing visa-related issues ahead of the international friendlies against Portugal and Poland. Samson Tijani and Alhassan Yusuf, with the latter scoring a brace against Jamaica to help Nigeria lift the Unity Cup trophy, have withdrawn from the squad due to visa issues.
Inter Milan’s Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, who was called-up to replace to replace Tijani and Yusuf, has also withdrawn from the squad due to illness. Femi Azeez, Nigeria’s latest sensational forward at the recently concluded Unity Cup, has also pulled out due to commitments at English Championship club Millwall.
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Despite these absences, Chelle insisted that the Super Eagles are determined to compete strongly against Poland and Portugal.
“We will go there to fight. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. But if we lose, they will have to work for it. They will have to beat us to win those games,” he said.
