Captain of the Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa, has departed the team’s camp in London and returned to Nigeria due to undisclosed personal reasons, just days before the highly anticipated final of the 2025 Unity Cup. The veteran forward was noticeably absent from the team’s Thursday training session, sparking discussions around the squad’s readiness for Saturday’s showdown.
According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Musa’s departure comes at a critical stage of the tournament, although officials have not indicated any disciplinary or health-related issues tied to his exit. The Super Eagles, fresh from a thrilling 2-1 victory over Ghana’s Black Stars at the GTech Community Stadium on Wednesday, have been ramping up preparations for the final against Jamaica.
However, Thursday’s training session also witnessed the absence of a few other key players. Wilfred Ndidi, Semilore Ajayi, and Cyril Dessers all sat out the session, with team sources attributing their absence to precautionary rest and recovery following their efforts in the Ghana encounter. Players who featured heavily in the match participated in light recovery routines to manage fatigue and prevent injury.
In a notable development, Benjamin Fredrick—former player of Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC in Ilorin and a standout performer for Nigeria’s U20 national team—was sighted at the training ground. Though not initially named in the Unity Cup squad, Fredrick, who now plies his trade with Premier League outfit Brentford, took part in the day’s tactical drills under the watchful eye of Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle. His presence has fueled speculation about a possible late call-up, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding some players’ availability.
Coach Chelle focused the session on tactical adjustments, positioning, and team coordination as preparations intensify ahead of Saturday’s final clash against Jamaica. The Reggae Boyz secured their spot in the final after edging out Trinidad and Tobago in a tight 3-2 contest earlier in the week.
The Unity Cup, hosted in London, has served as a valuable platform for African and Caribbean teams to test their strength and deepen squad chemistry ahead of upcoming international fixtures. As the final approaches, attention is now firmly on who will be fit and available to help Nigeria lift the trophy, especially amid the unexpected player exits and tactical reshuffling.
