Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi has finally explained why he was missing from Nigeria’s victorious 2026 Unity Cup campaign, despite finishing the season strongly with Nottingham Forest.
The 28-year-old forward had appeared to be a strong contender for inclusion in Eric Chelle’s squad following an impressive end to the Premier League season.
Awoniyi cemented his place in Nottingham Forest folklore by scoring a memorable brace against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on his 100th appearance for the club, helping Forest secure a crucial victory.
His resurgence in form led many fans to expect his return to the national team setup for the Unity Cup in London. Instead, Chelle opted for a different attacking cast, including Terem Moffi and Pisa striker Rafiu Durosinmi, who recently made his Super Eagles debut.
Addressing speculation surrounding his omission, Awoniyi revealed that he was, in fact, invited to join the squad but chose to withdraw due to personal commitments.
“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 former Liverpool striker also expressed confidence in the depth of talent available to the national team, insisting that the players selected were fully deserving of their places.
“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,” he added.
While Awoniyi was absent, several players seized the opportunity to impress on the international stage.
Millwall winger Femi Azeez emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament, scoring twice in Nigeria’s semi-final victory over Zimbabwe before providing an assist in the final.
The Super Eagles continued their fine form in the championship match against Jamaica, with Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi netting a brace and Terem Moffi adding a third goal with a well-taken header from Azeez’s delivery.
The triumph handed head coach Eric Chelle another Unity Cup success, following Nigeria’s victory over Jamaica on penalties in the previous edition at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.
As attention shifts toward the new season, Awoniyi’s future at club level remains uncertain. The striker is entering the final year of his contract at Nottingham Forest, and reports suggest the club could consider offers this summer as contract renewal discussions remain on hold.
