Oputa Thrilled by First Super Eagles Call-Up for Unity Cup

Enugu Rangers fullback Chibueze Oputa has described his maiden Super Eagles call-up as a moment of deep gratitude, vowing to make Nigeria proud at the 2026 Unity Cup in London later this month.

The right-back was included in coach Eric Chelle’s 27-man squad for the four-nation tournament after a standout season in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

His consistent displays helped Rangers maintain one of the best defensive records in the league, conceding just 26 goals while mounting a strong title challenge.

Reacting to the invitation on his X account, Oputa said, “Thank you to the Nigeria Football Federation for the opportunity. Forever grateful. Time to make the country proud.”

The Unity Cup, which also involves Zimbabwe, India and Jamaica, gets underway on May 26 at The Valley, Charlton, where Nigeria face Zimbabwe in the first semi-final.

The winners will advance to the final on May 30, where they will meet the victor of the second semi-final between India and Jamaica.

Oputa will be hoping to earn his senior debut during the London tournament, with the competition offering Chelle an opportunity to assess home-based players and those on the fringes of the senior squad ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

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