Azeez nets brace on debut as Super Eagles defeat Zimbabwe to reach Unity Cup final

Debutant Femi Azeez scored twice as the Super Eagles defeated Zimbabwe’s Warriors 2-0 in the first semi-final of the 2026 Unity Cup in London on Tuesday.

The victory marked Nigeria’s first win over Zimbabwe since their 2-0 success during the group stage of the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, remain without a win against the Super Eagles since their 2-0 triumph in a 1981 friendly match.

Azeez struck in both halves to book Nigeria’s place in Saturday’s final, where they will face either Jamaica or India.

The 24-year-old Millwall forward opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a low left-footed finish after being set up by Terem Moffi.

He doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 63rd minute, again finishing off an assist from Moffi after the Super Eagles launched a quick attack from the left flank.

The match also saw head coach Eric Chelle hand starting debuts to four players — Arthur Okonkwo, Rangers of Enugu duo Chibueze Oputa and Obinna Igbokwe, alongside Azeez.

Other starters included 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 also made their senior debuts for the Super Eagles during the encounter.

Both Nigeria and Zimbabwe are using the Unity Cup as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Super Eagles are drawn in Group L alongside co-hosts Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, while Zimbabwe will compete in Group E with DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Sierra Leone.