The 2025 Unity Cup, set to take place in London, will feature an exciting four-nation tournament involving Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago. The highlight of the tournament is the highly anticipated clash between West African rivals, the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana, scheduled for May 28, 2025, at Brentford FC's Gtech Community Stadium.

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has approached this international window with a strategy of squad rotation and opportunity, announcing separate squads for the 2025 Unity Cup and an upcoming friendly match against Russia. Notably absent from both lists were top Europe-based attackers Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Chelle explained these omissions by emphasizing his commitment to widening the pool of players for consideration and providing chances for others to demonstrate their quality. His aim is to build a new team identity and assess players, including those from the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL), ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers resuming in September. Papa Mustapha is noted as the only home-based player included in both the Unity Cup and Russia friendly squads.

In line with his objective, Chelle has included ten players from the NPFL in the Unity Cup squad, expressing confidence in their ability to bring energy, aggressiveness, and intensity to the team. A significant inclusion is the return of team captain Ahmed Musa. Chelle highlighted Musa's valuable experience and quality, noting the Kano Pillars forward's impressive form, having scored 10 goals in 23 NPFL appearances. The coach stated the decision was to give Musa another opportunity to prove his worth to the national team.

Ahmed Musa has embraced his return, urging Nigerian fans to continue supporting the Super Eagles, acknowledging their disappointment with recent results but stressing that fan support is crucial for boosting player morale. He expressed his happiness at rejoining the national team and his commitment to giving his best. Musa also encouraged the invited NPFL players to seize the opportunity and demonstrate their capabilities. All 22 invited Nigerian players have reported to the team's camp at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Ealing, and have commenced training.

On the Ghanaian side, Black Stars head coach Otto Addo faces considerable challenges with his squad selection. Several key players will miss the Unity Cup. Mohammed Kudus, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ernest Nuamah, Elisha Owusu, and Antoine Semenyo are reportedly recovering from minor injuries. Additionally, Abdul Manaf Nurudeen, Abdul Mumin, Tariq Lamptey, Alidu Seidu, Daniel Kofi Kyereh, Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, and Iñaki Williams are also sidelined due to injuries. Thomas Partey and Michael Baidoo have been given a break by the coach. Furthermore, Jerome Opoku, Kingsley Schindler, and Alexander Djiku were not released by their clubs as the Turkish season is still ongoing, while Joseph Paintsil and Osman Bukari are unavailable due to their commitments in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Despite these absences, Otto Addo has handed a recall to forward Felix Afena-Gyan, who returns to the national team after a three-year hiatus. Addo expressed his support for the 22-year-old, currently on loan at Juventus Next Gen from Cremonese, stating that Afena-Gyan deserves another chance to showcase his talent. The Black Stars will be led by new captain Jordan Ayew for the tournament.

The Nigeria versus Ghana match, often dubbed the 'Jollof derby,' is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 7 pm Nigerian time at the Gtech Community Stadium. Historically, the two nations have met 56 times, with Ghana winning 22 encounters, Nigeria 13, and 21 matches ending in draws. The Super Eagles won the most recent meeting 2-1 in March 2024. The match will be televised on DSTV, Afro Sports, and NFF TV.

The 2025 Unity Cup will see Nigeria face Ghana and Jamaica take on Trinidad & Tobago in the initial round. The winners of these matches will proceed to the final, while the losers will compete for third place. This tournament serves as a crucial preparation platform for both the Super Eagles and the Black Stars as they look ahead to important fixtures, including the resumption of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.