Eric Chelle has confirmed that several established stars will not feature for the Super Eagles at the upcoming Unity Cup in London, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Top players, including Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Calvin Bassey, and Wilfred Ndidi, will be absent from the invitational tournament as the coach shifts focus to evaluating fresh talent.
Chelle explained that the competition will serve as a platform to assess emerging players, particularly from the domestic league, as well as fringe players based in Europe.
“The Unity Cup provides a platform to assess new players. I will comb Europe and invite new players of Nigerian descent, alongside those who were previously called up but never got the chance to feature,” he said.
The Franco-Malian tactician also emphasized the importance of the Nigeria Premier Football League, revealing that standout performers from the domestic scene will be given a real opportunity to impress.
“Top players from the Nigeria Premier Football League will also be considered as I will be watching a number of domestic league games from now until the end of the season,” he added.
The Unity Cup is expected to play a key role in Chelle’s rebuilding process, offering him the chance to expand his player pool and identify new options ahead of future international competitions.