Former Golden Eaglets captain on the radar of Super Eagles coach Chelle ahead of Unity Cup

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands former Golden Eaglets captain Samson Tijani is being monitored by Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle ahead of Nigeria's participation in the 2026 Unity Cup scheduled to take place in London later this month.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Czech top-flight side Dukla Prague, has rebuilt his career impressively after enduring an injury-hit spell during his time with Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg.

Tijani joined Dukla Prague in 2025 and has become an important figure in the club’s midfield setup following a series of loan spells across Austria and Norway.

Tijani first caught national attention when he captained Nigeria at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil, where he scored twice in a 4-2 victory over Hungary during the group stage. His performances earned him a move to Europe shortly after the tournament.

The midfielder made his senior debut for the Super Eagles in October 2020 during Nigeria’s 1-0 defeat to Algeria in an international friendly.

Since then, he has remained on the fringes of the national team despite continuing his development in Europe.

Chelle has previously stated that the Unity Cup will provide opportunities for players from both domestic and foreign leagues to stake their claim for future Super Eagles invitations.

That stance has placed Tijani among the players being considered for a recall as the Malian tactician looks to expand Nigeria’s midfield options ahead of upcoming international assignments.

A return to the national team would mark another significant milestone in Tijani’s resurgence after several difficult years interrupted by injuries and inconsistent playing time in Europe.