The Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has firmly stated that players from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) must rigorously demonstrate their quality and readiness to earn a place in the national squad. Chelle underscored the exceptional talent currently within the team, featuring prominent international players such as Alex Iwobi, whom he described as a "magician," and Victor Osimhen, lauded as the "best striker in the world." Other top players like Calvin Bassey, Ola Aina, Benjamin Frederick, and Semi Ajayi further exemplify the high caliber of the current Super Eagles roster. Consequently, Chelle emphasised that NPFL players face a significant challenge and "will have to work really hard to displace these players."

Despite the strong competition, coach Chelle affirmed that opportunities remain open for domestic league talents. He highlighted the upcoming Unity Cup as a crucial platform for assessing and integrating emerging players into the national setup. This tournament, featuring Nigeria, Jamaica, India, and Zimbabwe, is poised to serve as a key preparatory event, offering a vital avenue for home-based players to showcase their capabilities and stake a claim for future national team call-ups.

In preparation for their first fixture, the Super Eagles held an official training session on Monday evening at the Charlton Athletic Stadium (The Valley). A contingent of 20 players participated under the direct supervision of Head Coach Eric Chelle. The squad included goalkeepers Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus), Arthur Okonkwo (Wrexham FC, England), and Michael Atata (Ikorodu City). The defensive line featured Chibuike Nwaiwu (Trabzonspor AS, Turkey), Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague, Czech Republic), Tijani Al Ameen (Shooting Stars), Obinna Igboke (Enugu Rangers), Elias Ochobi (Rivers United), and Chibueze Oputa (Enugu Rangers). Midfielders present were Tochukwu Nnadi (Olympic Marseille, France), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA), Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City), Samson Tijani (FK Dukla Prague, Czech Republic), Ayobami Junior (Shooting Stars), and Tosin Oyedokun (Ikorodu City). Forwards included Philip Otele (Hamburger SV, Germany), Owen Oseni (Plymouth FC, England), Terem Moffi (FC Porto, Portugal), Rafiu Durosinmi (Pisa FC, Italy), and Femi Azeez (Millwall FC, England).

The Super Eagles are set to commence their 2026 Unity Cup campaign on Tuesday against the Warriors of Zimbabwe. This encounter promises to be an exciting clash, recalling their previous tightly contested 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group matches, which both ended in 1-1 draws. In those qualifiers, Zimbabwe hosted Nigeria in Huye, Rwanda, before the Eagles played host to the Warriors in Uyo. Following Nigeria's match, the tournament will see Jamaica battle India on Wednesday. The Unity Cup is expected to be a competitive tournament, providing both established internationals and aspiring players invaluable match experience.