Nigerian stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman to miss friendlies against Poland and Portugal

Nigeria will be without two of their most influential attacking players when they face Poland and Portugal in upcoming international friendlies, with head coach Eric Chelle confirming the absence of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

The Super Eagles are preparing for the two matches without the pair, who have been excused from the squad for different reasons linked to their physical condition and club-related commitments.

Speaking about the decision, Chelle explained that Osimhen had been granted permission to remain with his representatives as he works on resolving matters concerning his club future.

The Nigerian striker is believed to be close to completing a transfer and was not considered to be in the ideal condition to take part in the fixtures.

The absence of the prolific forward represents a significant setback for Nigeria, given his importance to the national team in recent years. However, the coaching staff opted not to include him as he focuses on developments away from international duty.

Lookman will also miss the matches after a request from his club, Atlético de Madrid. According to Chelle, the Spanish side felt the winger required additional rest following a demanding campaign.

The Nigerian international has endured a busy season, prompting concerns about his workload ahead of the new campaign. As a result, he was excused from joining the national team for the two friendly encounters.

Although Nigeria will be deprived of two of their leading attacking options, the situation presents an opportunity for Chelle to assess other members of his squad.

The coach is expected to use the matches against Poland and Portugal to evaluate alternative attacking solutions and provide valuable minutes to players seeking to establish themselves in the national team setup.

Nigeria approach the fixtures in positive spirits following their recent success at the Unity Cup. The Super Eagles lifted the trophy after securing a convincing 3-0 victory over Jamaica in the final.

That triumph provided further encouragement for Chelle and his squad as they continue preparations for future competitive assignments.

With Osimhen and Lookman unavailable, attention will now turn to the players selected to step into the spotlight as Nigeria look to maintain momentum in their upcoming friendlies against two European opponents.