Lawal to miss Unity Cup and upcoming international friendlies
Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Unity Cup have suffered a setback after Czech-based striker Salim Fago Lawal was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
The forward, who plays for Viktoria Plzeň, is expected to remain sidelined until the end of the 2025–2026 season after picking up an injury earlier in the campaign. He has not featured for his club since sustaining the problem in the opening minutes of a league match against Bohemians, effectively ending his chances of participating in the upcoming Unity Cup in London.
His absence is a blow to Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who had been counting on the striker as part of his plans to assess emerging Nigerian talents and fringe players ahead of future international competitions.
The Unity Cup is expected to serve as an important platform for Nigeria to fine-tune preparations and evaluate squad depth, with matches lined up against international opposition including Zimbabwe, and potentially Jamaica or India depending on results.
Lawal’s unavailability now leaves Chelle with fewer attacking options as he looks to build a competitive squad, particularly with the tournament offering opportunities for players on the fringes of the national team to stake a claim for regular inclusion.
The striker had been viewed as one of the players to watch, especially after breaking into the national team setup in recent months. His injury, however, means he will miss not only the Unity Cup but also upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal.
With the tournament fast approaching, attention will now turn to possible replacements, as Chelle continues to shape his squad and test new combinations in attack.