Nigeria have been hit by a wave of withdrawals for their June 2026 European friendlies. Osimhen, Lookman, Chukwueze, and two others are out — here is the full picture and what it means for Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles.
Nigeria’s preparations for their June 2026 European friendlies have been disrupted by a significant wave of player withdrawals. Head coach Eric Chelle confirmed on May 31 that Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Alhassan Yusuf, and Samson Tijani will all miss the upcoming internationals against Poland on June 3 and Portugal on June 10. The absences represent a major blow to Nigeria’s attack — Osimhen and Lookman are two of the most dangerous forwards on the African continent — but Chelle has moved quickly to strengthen his options, calling up Millwall’s Femi Azeez as a replacement. Here is everything you need to know about the withdrawals and what they mean for the Super Eagles.
Victor Osimhen’s absence is the headline story. The striker, who scored for Nigeria in the CAF World Cup qualifying play-off final against DR Congo before the penalty shootout defeat, has been allowed to remain outside the squad to deal with personal matters. Reports from multiple outlets suggest the issues are connected to uncertainty over Osimhen’s club future this summer — the transfer window is approaching and his situation at club level requires attention.
Chelle confirmed he excused the striker following discussions with Osimhen and his representatives. The coach was careful not to elaborate further publicly, but the decision was mutual and agreed in advance. Osimhen remains a crucial player for the Super Eagles and is expected to return to the squad for the next round of international fixtures in September.
Ademola Lookman’s withdrawal is more straightforward. The Atalanta winger had an outstanding 2025/26 season in Serie A, playing a high volume of matches at an intense level throughout the campaign. Chelle and the NFF medical staff agreed that Lookman needed rest ahead of the new club season, and excusing him from the June internationals was the sensible decision.
Lookman had previously been included in the original squad announcement for the Unity Cup and the European friendlies. His withdrawal is a precautionary measure rather than a sign of any injury or falling-out with the coach. Like Osimhen, he is expected to be available for future international windows once pre-season preparations with his club are complete.
Samuel Chukwueze’s withdrawal carries a different weight. The Fulham winger will not travel to Poland or Portugal following the recent death of his mother in Nigeria. The Super Eagles camp and the NFF expressed their condolences, and the decision to excuse Chukwueze was unanimous and immediate. Football matters are secondary in such circumstances, and the support shown by the coaching staff reflects well on the camp’s culture under Chelle.
Alhassan Yusuf’s situation is particularly unfortunate given his outstanding performance at the Unity Cup, where the New England Revolution midfielder scored four goals across two matches — including a brace in the 3-0 final victory over Jamaica. However, Yusuf and fellow player Samson Tijani were unable to secure Schengen-area visas in time for travel to mainland Europe, an administrative complication that has affected Nigerian players before. Both players were genuinely disappointed to miss out after earning their places through performance.
To address the attacking shortfall, Chelle has called up Femi Azeez as a replacement. The Millwall forward was already part of the Unity Cup squad and proved himself emphatically — scoring twice against Zimbabwe in the semi-final and providing the assist for Terem Moffi’s goal in the final. Azeez’s promotion from the fringe of the squad to a central attacking role in the European friendlies reflects his rapid development and the confidence Chelle has in him.
At club level, Azeez is a direct, physical winger who can operate on either flank and contributes to both goal and assist tallies. His performances this season for Millwall in the Championship caught the eye, and his Super Eagles debut at the Unity Cup showed he is more than ready for higher-profile international football. The Poland and Portugal friendlies represent his chance to cement a regular starting position in the national team.
The key question facing Eric Chelle ahead of the June friendlies is how to construct a functional attack without Osimhen and Lookman. The options available to him include Paul Onuachu — a powerful target man with international experience — Akor Adams, Moses Simon, and the now-established Femi Azeez. It is a different kind of attack from the one that makes Nigeria genuinely feared at their best, but it is not without quality.
The Unity Cup demonstrated that Nigeria can win without their biggest names. The 3-0 victory over Jamaica was built on collective effort, intelligent movement, and an aggressive press that created chaos in the opposition defensive line. If Chelle can replicate that collective approach against Poland and Portugal, Nigeria will be competitive even in the absence of their headline acts. These friendlies may ultimately be more valuable for the squad depth they expose — or confirm — than for the results themselves.
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