By Rosemary Ugiomoh
London looked Green and white on the night, and more specifically, to one man: Femi Azeez*. On his very first cap for the Super Eagles, the 24-year-old Millwall winger grabbed both goals to knock Zimbabwe out and book Nigeria’s spot in the Unity Cup final.
It didn’t take long for the statement to be made. Azeez opened the scoring inside five minutes at The Valley, cutting through Zimbabwe’s defense and finishing with composure. From there, Nigeria never really let go. His pace and direct runs kept Zimbabwe pinned back all half, and in the 63rd minute he struck again to seal the brace and the win.
Eric Chelle’s side controlled the game end to end ,Zimbabwe barely got a foothold, while Nigeria created chances and managed the lead without looking under pressure. Late subs helped see it out comfortably.
The result matters for more than just the scoreline. It’s Nigeria’s first win over Zimbabwe in years after a run of frustrating draws, and it underlined the depth Chelle is building. The Unity Cup has given younger players a real chance, and Azeez took his with both hands.
For Azeez, the timing couldn’t be better. He’s coming off a strong season with Millwall in the Championship that had Premier League clubs circling before the summer window. One debut, two goals, and suddenly he’s the name everyone’s talking about in green and white.
As defending champions, Nigeria now head to the final with momentum and confidence. The Super Eagles look sharp, and the next generation is starting to make noise.
