Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has left Nigeria’s national team camp in London, returning home due to personal matters just two days ahead of the Unity Cup final.
Musa, Nigeria’s most capped international footballer, was notably absent from Thursday’s training session at the team’s base. The News Agency of Nigeria, learned that his departure had been communicated in advance and was not linked to injury or disciplinary action.
His absence comes as the Super Eagles continue preparations for Saturday’s Unity Cup final against Jamaica at the GTech Community Stadium in London.
Also missing from training were Wilfred Ndidi, Semilore Ajayi, and Cyril Dessers — all key players who played critical roles in Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over archrivals Ghana on Wednesday.
The trio sat out Thursday’s drills to recover from the high-intensity fixture. Those who featured heavily in the match were placed on light recovery routines, including stretches, pool sessions, and physiotherapy work.
The training session also saw a surprise participant: Benjamin Fredrick, a young central defender who was not on the original squad list.
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Fredrick, who plays for Brentford FC in the English Premier League, joined the team after being called up as an emergency backup. He trained fully with the squad, impressing coaches and teammates alike.
Head coach Eric Chelle led Thursday’s session with a focus on tactical fine-tuning and match simulations, aiming to exploit Jamaica’s defensive weaknesses.
Team officials say the session emphasized ball control, pressing in transition, and short-passing sequences — likely a plan to counter Jamaica’s physical style of play.
The Unity Cup, launched to foster stronger sporting ties among nations, has gained considerable attention in this edition.
Nigeria advanced to the final after a well-earned victory over Ghana, thanks to goals from Victor Boniface and Ademola Lookman. Jamaica reached the final after a thrilling 3-2 win against Trinidad and Tobago.
Saturday’s final is expected to draw a large Nigerian crowd in London, home to a vibrant diaspora. Team officials have reassured fans that despite the absences, the squad remains confident and focused.
The coaching crew confirmed that Ahmed Musa’s departure would not affect team morale, with several younger players, including Gift Orban and Raphael Onyedika, expected to step up.
Kick-off for the Unity Cup final is set for 5:00 p.m. local time.
NAN
