Taiwo Awoniyi breaks silence on missing Nigeria’s Unity Cup camp

Nigerian forward Taiwo Awoniyi has spoken publicly about his absence from the Super Eagles camp, explaining why he was unavailable for the Unity Cup and the national team’s friendly matches in June.

The Nottingham Forest striker has not featured for Nigeria since October 2024, and his latest omission from the squad prompted questions among supporters eager to know the reasons behind his absence.

Awoniyi has now addressed the situation directly, revealing that personal matters prevented him from joining the national team despite initially being expected to report for duty.

“I was supposed to be at the Super Eagles camp, but I withdrew for personal reasons that I need to sort out. We have a lot of talent in the Super Eagles squad, so for me, everyone who is in the team for these friendly matches is as good as me.”

The striker’s comments provided clarity regarding his withdrawal while also demonstrating confidence in the players selected to represent Nigeria during the current international window.

Awoniyi’s statement is likely to reassure supporters who may have been concerned about his relationship with the national team.

Rather than expressing frustration at missing out, the forward praised the depth of talent available to the Super Eagles and voiced his support for the squad.

The 27 year old has not played for Nigeria since making a brief appearance during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Libya, where he featured for 16 minutes. Since then, he has remained outside the national team setup.

Despite his absence from the pitch in Nigeria colours, Awoniyi’s latest remarks underline his continued connection to the Super Eagles and his belief in the players currently representing the country.

His decision to step away from the squad was presented as a temporary measure linked to personal matters rather than any issue concerning his international future.

For now, the striker remains focused on resolving those matters while maintaining his support for the national team.

His comments suggest that he continues to follow the Super Eagles closely and remains committed to Nigeria as he awaits an opportunity to return to international action in the future.