Osimhen, Lookman ruled out of Super Eagles friendlies against Poland, Portugal

Super Eagles of Nigeria will be without two of their key players, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, for the upcoming international friendly matches against Poland and Portugal, head coach Eric Chelle has confirmed.

Speaking ahead of the fixtures, Chelle explained that Osimhen has been left out of the squad due to uncertainty surrounding his club future.

“Victor Osimhen may have to change clubs, so I prefer that he stays where he is because if you play and you are not at 100 per cent, it is not good,” Chelle said.

The Galatasaray striker has recently been linked with several European clubs amid ongoing transfer speculation.

Nigeria will also be without former African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman, who has been granted time off due to fatigue after a demanding club season.

“Lookman is very tired, and Atalanta has asked us to release him,” Chelle explained.

The absence of both forwards is a major setback for Nigeria, as they remain two of the team’s most influential attacking players. Osimhen has played a central role for the Super Eagles in recent years, while Lookman enjoyed a strong European campaign, including a run to the semi-finals of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League.

Beyond the absence of the star attackers, Chelle also revealed that the team is facing administrative difficulties, with some players experiencing visa-related challenges ahead of the trip.

Despite these issues, he insisted the team would still travel to Europe with determination to compete strongly against both opponents.

“We will go there to fight. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. But if we lose, they will have to work for it. They will have to beat us to win those games,” he said.

Chelle described Poland as a strong side heading to the World Cup and Portugal as one of the best national teams in the world.

“Poland is a good team. They are going to the World Cup. Portugal may be the best team in the world. So this is a great challenge for us,” he said.

The matches will provide an opportunity for the Super Eagles to test themselves against top-level opposition as Chelle continues rebuilding the squad following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

“I am sad that we did not go to the World Cup, but maybe this challenge will be something very good for me and for the team,” the coach added.