"Why Ndidi and Iheanacho?": Nigerians question Eric Chelle’s Unity Cup squad

• Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle has announced his squad for the upcoming tourney scheduled for May and June
• Nigeria volition enactment successful the 2025 Unity Cup successful London, taking spot from May 27 to 31, with matches against Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago
• The Eagles look a pugnacious situation successful qualifying for the 2026 World Cup pursuing their disappointing performances successful the March series

Eric Chelle has announced 2 abstracted squads for Nigeria’s upcoming matches successful the 2025 Unity Cup and an planetary affable against Russia.

The Super Eagles secured a triumph implicit Rwanda and a gully with Zimbabwe successful the March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Focus present shifts to the Unity Cup successful London, wherever Nigeria volition look West African rivals Ghana connected May 28.

Kelechi Iheanacho of Nigeria celebrates aft scoring his extremity during the International Friendly lucifer against Saudi Arabia successful 2023. Photo by: MB Media.
Source: Getty Images

According to the NFF, the four-nation tourney volition service arsenic mentation for the World Cup qualifiers resuming successful September.

Chelle has recalled Super Eagles skipper Ahmed Musa, on with 9 NPFL players, for the Unity Cup, portion Papa Mustapha is the lone home-based subordinate named successful the squad to look Russia.

He explained wherefore helium had abstracted squads for the antithetic matches and wherefore 1 of the teams was dominated by NPFL players. He said:

“We’re looking guardant to taking portion successful the Unity Cup arsenic it volition springiness america the accidental to effort retired a fewer caller players successful antithetic roles, helping america to fortify our squad earlier the matches successful September and October."

Wilfred Ndidi of Nigeria passes the shot during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia radical D lucifer against Iceland. Photo by: Laurence Griffiths.
Source: Getty Images

Nigerians question inclusion of Iheanacho and Ndidi

Nigerians person expressed disappointment implicit the inclusion of Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Middlesbrough’s Kelechi Iheanacho successful the Super Eagles squad for the Unity Cup and upcoming affable against Russia.

Ndidi endured a mediocre play arsenic Leicester were relegated to the Championship for the 2nd clip successful 3 years and has struggled to gain a spot nether caller manager Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The 28-year-old apologised to Nigerians aft his costly miss against Zimbabwe successful the 2026 World Cup Qualification Group C played astatine the Godswill Akpabio stadium, per Daily Post.

Meanwhile, Iheanacho has fallen retired of favour astatine Middlesbrough, scoring conscionable 1 extremity and providing 2 assists successful 15 appearances during a abbreviated stint.

The AFCON metallic medallist is present expected to instrumentality to his genitor nine successful Spain per Leadership.

Link to the Super Eagles database for the Unity Cup and planetary affable against Russia here.

Legit.ng captured the reactions of Super Eagles fans. Read below:

@adeyemi_ameen said:

"Kelechi Iheanacho, based connected which form?...Cyriel Dessers should beryllium connected some lists!"

@OpemiDmh wrote:

"We hatred advancement arsenic a nation. "What’s ndidi and Iheanacho doing here."

@Don17488409 added:

"Happy with the squad, lone Iheanacho who person not played a crippled for months shouldn't beryllium there, blessed for the caller telephone ups, chiefly Felix Agu and Christantus."

@aims_ukafia said:

"Iheanacho godfather beardown nary beryllium lie. Cos archer maine however he's successful this squal database for games we request to effort retired caller legs. Chuba Akpom who's been disposable for astir a decennary inactive hasn't been considered. Shame connected NFF. Shame connected Chelle."

Chelle says nary imposition of players

Legit.ng earlier reported that Eric Chelle has firmly stated that helium volition not tolerate immoderate interference from officials wrong the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) erstwhile it comes to subordinate selection.

Several foreign-based players of Nigerian descent person reached retired to Chelle, pledging their committedness to correspond the Super Eagles.

The Nigeria Football Federation, nether the enactment of Ibrahim Gusau, has continued to enactment Chelle’s European scouting trips arsenic helium works to place the champion talents to fortify the nationalist team.

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Source: Legit.ng