Top 7: Nigeria’s breakout stars of 2026 and their Super Eagles’ Unity Cup chances

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will, for the second straight year, lead Nigeria to London for the invitational Unity Cup later this month, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former Mali national team boss plans to rest several first team regulars and only deploy fringe and new players for the tournament.

With Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon unlikely to make the squad, the door is open for a number of newbies to stake their claims to a national team spot.

Soccernet.ng cast the lights on eight exciting stars who have enjoyed a breakout 2025-26 season and ready to grab their Super Eagles chances at the Unity Cup.

Potential Super Eagles invitees for 2026 Unity Cup

Prosper Obah

Prosper Obah has had a breakout 2025/26 season in the Ukrainian Premier League, particularly since joining Shakhtar Donetsk in the winter transfer window.

The Umuahia-born forward has established himself as a productive attacking threat this season, primarily playing as a right winger or forward.

After an impressive stint with FC LNZ Cherkasy earlier in the season (where he netted seven goals), Obah moved to Shakhtar Donetsk where he has won the Ukrainian league title.

Obah is currently in high contention for a spot in the Super Eagles squad for the Unity Cup, scheduled to kickoff on May 26.

With Chukwueze set to miss out, Obah will offer competition on Nigeria's attacking right flank, which has been one of the team's weak points.

Ryan Alebiosu

Nigeria international Ryan Alebiosu has enjoyed a standout 2025/26 season at Blackburn Rovers, establishing himself as one of the most dynamic right-sided defenders in the English Championship.

Alebiosu's first full season at Ewood Park has been highly productive, with his attacking intent from right wing-back making him a fixture in the starting lineup.

The versatile defender recorded 1 goal and 5 assists in 41 appearances. He was recently ranked as one of the top five Nigerian players in the Championship for the 2025/26 season.

The former St Mirren star was a member of the Super Eagles to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations but he only made one appearance against Uganda. That was before his tournament was cut short by a foot injury but he still earned a bronze medal for his troubles.

Chelle is specifically scouting for diaspora-born talent and domestic stars to fill the Unity Cup roster while resting regulars like Ola Aina. And Alebiosu is considered a strong candidate for the Super Eagles squad for the tournament as Chelle looks to test fringe and emerging players.

Still, he may face competition from other emerging right-backs like Femi Seriki but his familiarity with the London setting and AFCON experience boosts his chances.

Armstrong Oko-Flex

Armstrong Oko-Flex has experienced a highly successful 2025/26 season, culminating in a historic Bulgarian First Professional League title with Levski Sofia.

The former West Ham United winger emerged as one of the most productive wingers in the Bulgarian league this year, split across two clubs.

Oko-Flex spent the first half of the season at Botev Plovdiv, scoring 6 goals, before making a January transfer to Levski Sofia. He played a decisive role in Levski Sofia as the club won their first league title in 17 years to effectively end Ludogorets Razgrad's long-standing dominance.

As he has represented Ireland and England at the youth level, Oko-Flex's chances of a call-up for the Unity Cup is not particularly at an all-time high. While he remains eligible to play for Nigeria, he may need a FIFA approval before switching to represent the three-time African champions.

Moses Usor

Moses Usor has enjoyed a career-best 2025/26 season with LASK Linz, emerging as one of the most prolific Nigerian forwards in Europe this year.

The 24-year-old attacker has been the focal point of a historic season for LASK, which saw the club end a 61-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Austrian Cup on May 1.

The former Slavia Prague winger is in the form of his life, having recorded 15 goals and 5 assists across all competitions. Usor He is currently on a red-hot scoring run, netting goals in four of his last five matches, including the equalizer in the Austrian Cup final against SCR Altach.

A graduate of the famous 36 Lions academy, Usor's goals have kept LASK in contention for a domestic double as they are level on points with RB Salzburg at the top of the Austrian Bundesliga.

Usor's exploit wil be hard for Chelle to ignore, making the forward a primary candidate for a maiden Super Eagles call-up. Even more eye-catching is Usor’s versatility. He is able to play as a right-winger, second striker, or attacking midfielder, which make him an ideal fit for this experimental squad.

Emmanuel Fernandez

Emmanuel Fernandez has been spectacular at Rangers this season, transforming from a lower-league prospect into one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe.

After joining Rangers from League One side Peterborough United for £3.5 million in the summer of 2025, Fernandez has become a revelation at Ibrox. Despite being a defender, he has recorded 6 goals across all competitions, making him a major set-piece threat.

The 24-year-old was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year and was voted the Rangers Player of the Season, accolades that have raised the transfer interest of top-tier clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Borussia Dortmund.

Fernandez's chances of featuring in the Unity Cup are virtually guaranteed, as he has already established himself as a core member of coach Eric Chelle’s setup. He earned his maiden call-up and made his senior debut in a 2-1 win over Iran in March. With regulars like Calvin Bassey to ber rested, Fernandez could have a key role to play at the heart of the Nigerian defence.

David Ozoh

After an excellent 2025/26 season at Derby County, Ozoh has established himself as one of the top emerging Nigerian talents in the English Championship.

Returning to Derby County for a second loan spell from Crystal Palace, Ozoh became a mainstay in the Rams' midfield as they secured an 8th-place finish, missing the playoffs on the final day. The 20-year-old registered two goals in 33 league appearances, totaling over 1,900 minutes of play.

Noted for his physical presence and defensive balance, Ozoh could be the next Oghenekaro Etebo for the Super Eagles.

He is a strong contender for Chelle's squad for the Unity Cup, though his inclusion depends on administrative timing.

The youngster has reportedly committed his future to Nigeria after representing England at the U18 level but he is currently awaiting final clearance from the English FA. Because his previous England caps were in non-competitive friendlies, the switch is expected to be straightforward.

Chelle is monitoring him as a potential long-term replacement for midfield regulars like Wilfred Ndidi or the injured Alex Iwobi.

Femi Azeez

Femi Azeez has had a sensational 2025/26 season at Millwall and is widely regarded as the best player in the English Championship this year.

The forward has been a primary driver behind Millwall's push for the Premier League, leading them to a 3rd-place finish and a spot in the promotion playoffs. Azeez recorded 11 goals and 8 assists in 36 league appearances.

WhoScored ranked him as the Championship’s best player for the season with an average rating of 7.31 and he ended the regular season in peak form, scoring a brace in a 2-0 win over Oxford United.

Azeez was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season and nominated for the official Player of the Season award.

His chances of making the Super Eagles squad for the Unity Cup are extremely high, as he is considered a headline addition to the Super Eagles project.

He recently officially pledged his international future to Nigeria over England and Spain and since he has no senior or youth caps for other nations, he is free to play for Nigeria immediately.