The Super Eagles on Saturday evening at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, England emerged victorious after defeating Jamaica 5–4 on penalties to clinch the 2025 Unity Cup.
The highly contested final ended 2–2 in regulation time with Eagles’ stand-in captain, Moses Simon, opening scoring for Nigeria in the 9th minute, just outside the six-yard box. Only for Jamaica to respond almost immediately through Kaheim Dixon, who converted a low cross off a brilliant run down the right side of Eagles’ defence where Remo Stars’ Sodiq Ismaila, who had a decent game in the 2-1 semifinal win over Black Stars of Ghana on Wednesday, was run ragged.
AC Milan winger, Samuel Chukwueze, restored Nigeria’s lead in the 53rd minute with a pib-point left-footed strike from the edge of the box. But the resilient Reggae Boyz levelled again on 64th minute, with Jonathan Russell turning in another assist.
The referee signalled for penalties after 90 minutes after neither side improved on the scoring. Kelechi Iheanacho, Simon, Bruno Onyemaechi and Tolu Arokodare scored for Nigeria. But after Jamaica’s Atkinson’s kick hit the post, it was left for new boy Uche Chrisantus to seal the win with the final penalty, making Nigeria win its first major trophy since the country won the Africa Cup of Nations staged in South Africa in 2013. It was also Nigeria’s second Unity Cup title after having won the inaugural edition in 2004.
Published on May 31, 2025
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