Super Eagles triumph over Jamaica on penalties to win Unity Cup

Abdullateef Fowewe

Super Eagles triumph over Jamaica on penalties to win Unity Cup

In a thrilling final at the Gtech Community Stadium in London on Saturday, Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz 5-4 in a penalty shootout after a pulsating 2-2 draw in regulation time to win the Unity Cup for the second consecutive time.

Moses Simon opened the scoring early with a precise finish from a Cyriel Dessers cross, but Jamaica quickly equalised through Kaheim Dixon.

The Super Eagles regained the lead midway through the second half thanks to a brilliant solo effort by Samuel Chukwueze.

Jamaica, however, responded again with Jon Russell leveling the match in the 63rd minute, setting the stage for a tense finale.

Despite several late chances from both sides, including efforts from Wilfred Ndidi and Moses Simon, the match remained deadlocked, leading to a dramatic penalty shootout.

It was in a Nigeria’s favour as a Jamaica player missed a penalty, while debutant Christantus Uche calmly converted the decisive penalty to seal the victory for the Super Eagles.

Coach Eric Chelle’s side dominated much of the game, creating more scoring opportunities and demonstrating resilience against a physically tough Jamaican side.

The win marks a significant achievement for Nigeria, ending a 12-year trophy drought in this tournament and showcasing the depth of talent with several players making their debuts, including Felix Agu and Benjamin Fredrick.

The Super Eagles XI featured Nwabali; Sodiq Ismail, Igoh Ogbu, Frederick Benjamin, Felix Agu; Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi; Nathan Tella, Moses Simon, Samuel Chukwueze; and Cyriel Dessers.

This victory not only cements Nigeria’s dominance in the Unity Cup but also highlights the growing football rivalry and camaraderie between African and Caribbean nations on an international stage.

Super Eagles triumph over Jamaica on penalties to win Unity Cup