Christianus Uche was unable to make his long-awaited debut for Nigeria during the Unity Cup clash against Ghana, with personal circumstances cited as the reason for his absence.
The Getafe defender, who had been called up to the national squad by coach Eric Chelle, missed the training sessions leading up to the match, along with goalkeeper Amas Obasogie of Singida Black Stars.
Nigeria secured a 2-1 win over their West African rivals, but both players were noticeably missing from the team sheet and the bench.
According to reports from Soccernet.ng, Uche’s absence was due to a personal matter.
Although no further details were made public, sources close to the team suggested that the situation is being handled privately and respectfully, with hopes that the defender might still join up with the squad before the end of the Unity Cup campaign.
Amas Obasogie, on the other hand, was ruled out due to visa complications.
The shot-stopper was unable to travel to England in time to link up with the Super Eagles, despite being named in Chelle’s initial squad.
“Both players were expected to play a part in the Unity Cup fixtures,” a source told Soccernet.ng. “Unfortunately, unforeseen circumstances prevented their immediate involvement. We remain hopeful that Christianus Uche can still link up with the team, depending on the resolution of his personal matters.”
Uche’s call-up had been seen as a promising step in his international career.
The young defender has impressed in La Liga with Getafe, earning recognition for his composure and tactical awareness.
His inclusion in the Unity Cup squad marked his first official nod at senior international level.
Meanwhile, Obasogie’s case highlights the bureaucratic challenges that can sometimes hinder African players from participating in overseas fixtures, even when selected.
The goalkeeper has built a solid reputation in the Tanzanian league and was expected to provide competition for the starting spot between the posts.
Coach Eric Chelle, who recently took charge of the Super Eagles, is using the Unity Cup to evaluate new talent and lay the groundwork for upcoming qualifiers.
While Uche and Obasogie’s absence is a setback, the coaching staff remains optimistic about their future involvement with the national team.
Nigeria’s next Unity Cup fixture offers another chance for fresh faces to shine — and perhaps, for Uche to finally step onto the international stage in green and white.
