By Kunle Solaja.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will put an impressive unbeaten run on the line when they face Poland in an international friendly in Warsaw on Wednesday, with head coach Eric Chelle determined to further entrench a winning mentality within the squad.

Since suffering a 2-1 defeat to Egypt in Cairo on December 16, 2025, in a pre-Africa Cup of Nations friendly, Nigeria have gone 11 matches without losing in regulation time. Their only setback during that period came in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against hosts Morocco, where they bowed out after a penalty shoot-out following a goalless draw.

The remarkable sequence has seen the Super Eagles defeat Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Mozambique and Algeria on their way to the AFCON semi-finals before overcoming Egypt in a third-place play-off decided by penalties. More recently, they recorded victories over Iran, Zimbabwe and Jamaica, while drawing with Jordan, to underline their growing consistency under Chelle.

According to a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Franco-Malian coach remains focused on building a culture of success within the national team despite the challenges posed by the off-season timing of the match.

Speaking after Monday’s training session in Warsaw, Chelle noted that many players had already entered their holiday period following the conclusion of domestic and club competitions but insisted that standards must not drop.

“There is a culture of winning that we are trying to build in this team, and that mentality is important,” Chelle said.

“You can say that it is difficult to have games at this time because the players have been in holiday mood for about two weeks, but the job must be done.

“We have 18 players in camp now, and we will work with that. Everybody must work hard, and we will go into the match with the determination to win.”

Nigeria arrive in Poland buoyed by their recent Unity Cup triumph in London, where they defeated Zimbabwe 2-0 in the semi-finals before brushing aside Jamaica 3-0 in the final to lift the trophy.

The encounter offers Chelle another opportunity to assess his squad and reinforce his philosophy as preparations continue for future competitive assignments, including the ongoing quest for qualification to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Poland, meanwhile, will be seeking a response after a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Ukraine in their last friendly outing. The hosts are expected to provide a stern test for the Super Eagles as both sides continue their World Cup preparations.

For Nigeria, however, the focus remains on extending a run that has steadily restored confidence and belief within the squad since Chelle took charge, with the coach determined that every match should reinforce the winning culture he is striving to establish.

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Nigeria’s preparations for Wednesday’s international friendly against Poland gathered momentum on Monday evening, with captain Wilfred Ndidi leading 15 other players in the team’s first training session in Warsaw.

The three-time African champions arrived in the Polish capital fresh from their successful Unity Cup title defence in London and wasted no time getting down to business ahead of the clash at the 58,000-capacity Stadion PGE Narodowy.

A total of 16 players took part in the 80-minute session conducted by head coach Eric Chelle under light rain at the Stadion Polonii Warszawa.

Among those present were goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Francis Uzoho and Arthur Okonkwo; defenders Bruno Onyemaechi, Zaidu Sanusi, Emmanuel Fernandez and Igoh Ogbu; midfielders Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika and Tochukwu Nnadi; and forwards Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, Jerome Akor Adams, Terem Moffi and Rafiu Durosinmi.

Defender Semi Ajayi, whose Hull City side recently secured promotion back to the English Premier League, arrived in camp after lunch and received a warm welcome from teammates. Fresh invitee Abdullahi Bewene also checked into camp but did not participate in Monday’s session.

Nigeria will hold their official training at the match venue on Tuesday before facing the White-Reds on Wednesday.

The encounter marks only the second senior international meeting between the two countries. Their first clash came in March 2018 when Victor Moses scored the only goal as the Super Eagles defeated Poland 1-0 in Wroclaw in a pre-World Cup friendly.

Both teams head into Wednesday’s fixture seeking a positive response after narrowly missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria defeated Gabon before losing to DR Congo on penalties in the African playoff final, while Poland overcame Albania but fell 3-2 to Sweden in the European playoff decider.

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Nigeria will be without two of its biggest stars, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, when the Super Eagles face Portugal and Poland in international friendly matches in a few days.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle confirmed that both players have been excused from the squad for the encounters, which will be only the second meetings between Nigeria and each of the European nations.

Nigeria will take on Poland in Warsaw on June 3 before facing Portugal in Leiria on June 10 as part of preparations for the European teams’  2026 FIFA World Cup matches and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers for Nigeria.

According to Chelle, Osimhen’s absence is linked to an imminent club transfer, with the coach preferring not to disrupt the striker’s preparations during a critical period in his career.

“Victor is dealing with an important situation regarding his future. For me, he is the type of player who should either be at 100 per cent or not play at all,” Chelle explained.

The absence of the former African Footballer of the Year is a major blow for the Super Eagles, given his importance to the team’s attack and his prolific scoring record for both club and country.

Lookman, meanwhile, has been granted a rest following a demanding season. Chelle revealed that the player’s club, Atletico Madrid, requested that he be excused from international duty due to physical and mental fatigue accumulated during the campaign.

The winger joins a growing list of absentees that also includes Samuel Chukwueze, who is unavailable for family reasons, while midfielders Alhassan Yusuf and Samson Tijani are sidelined because of visa-related issues.

Despite the high-profile omissions, Chelle sees the friendlies as an opportunity rather than a setback.

The Franco-Malian tactician intends to use the matches to assess the depth of his squad and provide opportunities for fringe players and returning internationals ahead of competitive fixtures later in the year.

Experienced striker Paul Onuachu, captain Wilfred Ndidi and several emerging talents are expected to play key roles as Chelle experiments with different combinations against two strong European opponents.

The Portugal and Poland fixtures carry added significance as they represent only the second meetings between Nigeria and each country. The matches are expected to provide valuable tests for a Super Eagles side seeking to rebuild momentum after missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

While many supporters had hoped to see Osimhen and Lookman lead the attack against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and a talented Polish side, reaction to the coach’s decision has largely been positive.

Fans have backed the move to prioritise player welfare and long-term planning, trusting Chelle’s judgment as he continues to shape the squad for future challenges.

With two major stars unavailable, the spotlight will now fall on the players selected to seize their opportunity and stake a claim for a regular place in the national team setup.

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