Football fans have urged the coaching crew of the Super Eagles to retain several emerging players who impressed during Nigeria’s victorious campaign at the 2026 Unity Cup in London and the recent international friendly against Poland.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Head Coach, Eric Chelle, fielded a squad largely made up of debutants and fringe players at the Unity Cup.
The team defeated Zimbabwe 2-0 in the semi-finals and Jamaica 3-0 in the final to win the tournament without conceding a goal.
Among the standout performers was Femi Azeez of Millwall, who scored twice against Zimbabwe and later provided an assist for Terem Moffi’s goal in the final against Jamaica.
His performances have drawn praise from fans, with many tipping him to compete for a regular place in the Super Eagles attack alongside established stars such as Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman.
A football enthusiast, Opeyemi Olatunji, said Azeez had shown great promise and could enjoy a successful international career.
“The first thing that came to mind when I saw him play was former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie.
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“He has excellent footwork and looks like a player with a bright future,” he said.
In midfield, Alhassan Yusuf was another player who attracted commendation from supporters.
The New England Revolution midfielder seized his opportunity in the absence of regulars Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi.
Yusuf formed a strong partnership with Tochukwu Nnadi and capped his performances by scoring two goals in the final against Jamaica.
A sports blogger, Julie Sports, described Yusuf as one of Nigeria’s best performers during the tournament.
“I want to give a special mention to Alhassan Yusuf.
“He was outstanding against Jamaica and also impressive in the semi-final against Zimbabwe.
“His tackling, interceptions, positioning and work rate stood out. He showed why he deserves a place in the squad,” she said.
In defence, Chibuike Nwaiwu also earned plaudits for his composed displays during the competition.
The Trabzonspor defender stepped in effectively in the absence of regular defenders Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi.
A fan, Akoi Philip, said Nwaiwu demonstrated qualities that could make him a valuable addition to the national team.
“He is solid, composed and reads the game well. His close marking and tackling ability were impressive,” he said.
Goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo of Wrexham AFC was also praised after keeping clean sheets in both matches at the Unity Cup.
Another supporter, Onah Palmer, commended the goalkeeper’s performances while calling for patience as he gains more international experience.
“I have watched him at club level and he is good with distribution.
“I believe he will continue to improve as he gains more experience in high-profile international matches,” he said.
Abdullahi Bewene was another player who impressed fans following his performance in Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Poland.
The FC Banik Ostrava midfielder, deployed at right-back, was effective both defensively and offensively.
A supporter, Daniel Emmanuel, said Bewene had shown the qualities needed to challenge for a regular place in the team.
“Bewene is a talented player. He is good at dribbling, marking and crossing, although there is still room for improvement in some aspects of his defending,” he said.
Speaking after Nigeria’s Unity Cup triumph, Chelle said expanding the player pool was necessary to ensure the team remains competitive in major tournaments.
“The objective is to build a stronger squad with enough depth.
“We need players who can come in and make a difference whenever the team faces difficult situations or fatigue during competitions,” he said.
NAN reports that Nigeria will face Portugal in an international friendly on June 10 in Leiria, Portugal.
(NAN)
