Taiwo Awoniyi breaks silence on Unity Cup absence as Super Eagles triumph without him

Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has finally explained why he was absent from Nigeria’s victorious 2026 Unity Cup campaign, revealing that personal commitments forced him to turn down a call-up despite being in contention for the tournament.

Awoniyi’s absence raised eyebrows following a strong finish to the season with Nottingham Forest.

The 28-year-old worked his way back into the spotlight under manager Vitor Pereira and capped his campaign in style, scoring a memorable brace against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on his 100th appearance for the Premier League club.

Those performances appeared to place the former Liverpool forward among the leading candidates for inclusion in Eric Chelle’s squad for the Unity Cup in London. Instead, Chelle selected Terem Moffi and Pisa striker Rafiu Durosinmi, who recently made his Super Eagles debut.

Awoniyi explains decision to stay away

With questions lingering over his omission, Awoniyi has now clarified that the decision was his own and not a result of being overlooked by the national team coaching staff.

“I was supposed to be in the Super Eagles camp, but I opted out because of personal reasons I have to attend to,” Awoniyi said in an interview with SportsBoom.

The Nottingham Forest striker also stressed that Nigeria’s squad depth meant the team remained well-equipped in his absence.

“We have lots of talents in the Super Eagles, so for me, everyone that is in the team for the June friendlies is as good as me, just as I’m as good as them.”

New faces seize their opportunity

While Awoniyi watched from afar, several players grabbed the spotlight during Nigeria’s successful run to the trophy.

Millwall winger Femi Azeez emerged as one of the tournament’s standout performers. He struck twice in the semi-final victory over Zimbabwe before providing the assist for Moffi’s goal in the final.

Nigeria then completed the job against Jamaica, with Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi scoring twice and Moffi adding another goal with a powerful header from Azeez’s delivery.

The triumph secured another piece of silverware for Chelle and ensured the Super Eagles retained the Unity Cup crown. The Nigerian coach had also guided the team to victory in the previous edition after defeating Jamaica on penalties at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.

Uncertain future at Nottingham Forest

Although international football is temporarily on hold, Awoniyi faces a significant period in his club career.

The striker is approaching the final year of his contract at Nottingham Forest, with discussions over a new deal currently stalled. That situation has fuelled speculation that the club could consider offers for him during the summer transfer window rather than risk losing him for a reduced fee later.

For now, however, Awoniyi’s focus appears to be on resolving personal matters before turning his attention back to both club and country. His explanation has ended speculation surrounding his Unity Cup absence, while Nigeria’s success without him underlined the growing competition for places in Chelle’s squad ahead of future international assignments.