Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle has expressed worry about the absence of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and four other players before this month’s friendly matches against Portugal and Poland.
Chelle shared that Osimhen, Lookman, Alhassan Yusuf, Samson Tijani, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, and new player Femi Azeez will not play in the two matches. This comes after Nigeria won the Unity Cup title for the second time in a row in London on Saturday.
Yusuf, who plays in the US, scored twice, and Terem Moffi also netted as Nigeria defeated Jamaica 3-0 at The Valley. This victory earned Nigeria their fourth title in the invitational tournament.
“Now we have two games against Poland and Portugal, and I have lots of problems because some players don’t have visas: Tijani, Yusuf, and we will miss them. We will travel with 18 players and see what happens with Poland and Portugal,” Chelle said in his post-match interview on Saturday.
Chelle mentioned that Lookman was excused from the squad for personal reasons. He also hinted that Osimhen’s absence might be connected to his future situation. However, this was later explained in a statement from Super Eagles Media Officer Promise Efoghe, which was attributed to the coach.
“Concerning Victor Osimhen, he is an important player for Nigeria and Galatasaray. This period is the off-season when a lot of things happen off the pitch and we must respect certain decisions that are not in our hands,” the statement read.
“Ademola Lookman won’t be available for personal reasons. Femi Azeez had a good outing at the Unity Cup, but his club will not let him play in the remaining matches. Alhassan Yusuf and Samson Tijani do not have entry visas, while Ebenezer Akinsanmiro is unwell. The upcoming matches are friendlies, and I will take every game seriously with the players available.”
Meanwhile, Osimhen has clarified his situation with the club after Chelle’s earlier comments. “I just got off the phone with Coach Eric Chelle regarding the comments about me in his recent interview,” Osimhen wrote.
“Unfortunately, his words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion. He has great respect for Galatasaray, follows most of our games and never intended to create any controversy.
“I appreciate the conversation, the opportunity to always represent my country, and I look forward to continuing to work with him.
“He is a great coach whom I respect a lot, and I kindly ask everyone to disregard the speculation surrounding this matter. Thank you for your consistent support.”
The Super Eagles will play Poland at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on June 3 before heading to Portugal to face the hosts at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on June 10.
Portugal will use this match as preparation for the World Cup, while Nigeria will keep building under Chelle for future competitive games.
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