A brace by debutant Femi Azeez helped the Super Eagles overcome Warriors of Zimbabwe 2-0, in the first semi-finals of the 2026 Unity Cup in London on Tuesday.
This is the first Super Eagles win against Zimbabwe since a 2-0 triumph in the group stage at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
For Zimbabwe, they are yet to beat the Super Eagles since recording a 2-0 win in a friendly match in 1981.
Azeez netted in both halves to send the Super Eagles into Saturday’s final where they will face Jamaica or India.
The 24-year-old Millwall forward opened the scoring in the fifth minute as he fired in a low left foot shot into the back of the net, off a lay off by Terem Moffi.
Also Read: Premier League Clubs Intensify Chase For Femi Azeez
In the 63rd minute Azeez made it 2-0 off another assist from Moffi. Then Super Eagles broke on the left with Moffi squaring the ball towards Azeez who simply slotted home from close range.
The game saw head coach Eric Chelle list four debutants – Arthur Okonkwo, Rangers of Enugu duo Chibueze Oputa, Obinna Igbokwe and Azeez in his starting lineup.
Also in the starting lineup were Alhassan Abdullahi, Tochukwu Nnadi, Moffi, Philip Otele, Samson Tijani, Chibuike Nwaiwu and Igoh Ogbu.
Ikorodu City midfielder Aderemi Adeoye, Owen Oseni of Plymouth and Rafiu Durosinmi of Pisa FC all made their debuts for the Super Eagles against Zimbabwe.
Both the Super Eagles and Zimbabwe are using the Unity Cup as preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
While the Super Eagles are in Group L with co-hosts Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, Zimbabwe are drawn in Group E alongside DR Congo Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone.
By James Agberebi
3 Comments
Impressive…..!!!
Rebuilding the SE has just started.
A bunch of strangers playing this well without leaving out any crumbs bodes well for the future.
The last unity cup gave us Fredrick, the last friendlies gave us Fernandez, today’s game has given us Azeez. Who’s ready to step up next…..???
This guys did a great Job today, they were perfect, kudos to the coach and his staff’s, a highly welcome to AZEEZ and others
Here’s AZEEZ, One of those players that our jobless former players are calling European rejects. I’m 100% sure that this guy won’t be here assuming chelle is one kind USA 94 guy. Chief Chelle, we need more of this guy jare.