Nigeria’s Super Eagles successfully retained the Unity Cup after cruising to a convincing 3-0 victory over Jamaica in Saturday’s final at the Valley Stadium in London.
Alhassan Yusuf starred for Eric Chelle’s side with a brace, while Terem Moffi also got on the scoresheet as the three-time champions underlined their dominance in the competition.
The Super Eagles wasted little time asserting themselves, taking the lead just three minutes into the contest. Yusuf capitalised on a goalkeeping error to bundle home from close range after Jamaica failed to clear their lines.
Nigeria remained in control throughout and doubled their advantage early in the second half. Femi Azeez, who impressed throughout the tournament, surged down the flank and delivered a teasing cross that Moffi nodded into an empty net.
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Yusuf then wrapped up the victory in style, finishing off a swift counterattack with a composed strike from the edge of the area to complete his brace and put the result beyond doubt.
The triumph handed Chelle’s experimental squad a perfect end to the tournament, with several fringe players taking advantage of the opportunity to stake claims for regular places in the national team.
It also reinforced Nigeria’s status as the most successful side in Unity Cup history. The Super Eagles previously lifted the trophy in 2002 and 2004 and retained it after last year’s revival of the competition, when they edged Jamaica on penalties in the final.
Champions Again!!! pic.twitter.com/oIFuxux6ys
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) May 30, 2026
Despite clashing with the UEFA Champions League final, the match attracted a respectable crowd in London as Nigeria once again demonstrated their superiority in the invitational tournament.
For Chelle, the victory represents another encouraging step as preparations continue for upcoming international assignments and crucial competitive fixtures.
Addressing the press after the match, Eric Chelle hailed the team for showing character in the Unity Cup.
“The first goal for this tournament was to give a chance to some players who play in Europe and in the Nigerian league,” the Franco-Malian coach told the press.
“It was not a question of winning this tournament. The second objective was to continue to work on our game project. As you can see, this team improves with every game.
“During the first half, it was not easy because they didn’t see the weaknesses of the team. But afterward, in the second half, they were very strong with good intensity and good aggression.
“For sure, when they have the ball, it’s difficult to take the ball from that team. So I’m happy for them. Very happy, because they deserve this trophy.”
Osimhen, Lookman To Miss Friendlies
Nigeria’s next games are against Portugal and Poland. The European teams are using the matches to prepare for the World Cup.
But the coach said star striker Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman won’t be available for the friendlies.
“Now we have two games against Poland and Portugal, and I have a lot of problems because some players don’t have visas, like Tanimu and Alhassan Yusuf. Most importantly, we will miss two players,” Chelle said.
“Victor Osimhen might be changing clubs, so I prefer that he stays home because if you play and you are not at 100%, that is not good. Lookman is also very tired, and Atalanta has asked us to let him rest. So we will travel with 18 players, and we will see what happens in Poland and Portugal.”
Osimhen, who plays for Galatasaray, has been at the centre of transfer speculation in recent months, with several European clubs reportedly monitoring his situation.
The withdrawal of both players deprives Nigeria of two of its most influential attacking threats. Osimhen has been a key figure for the Super Eagles in recent years, while Lookman enjoyed another impressive campaign in Europe by reaching the semi-finals of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League
Beyond the absence of the star forwards, Chelle disclosed that the team has also encountered administrative challenges, with some players facing visa-related issues ahead of the trip.
Despite the setbacks, the coach insisted that Nigeria would travel to Europe, determined to compete strongly against Poland and Portugal.
“We will go there to fight. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. But if we lose, they will have to work for it. They will have to beat us to win those games,” he said.
