Nigeria win Unity Cup after perfect penalty shootout against Jamaica
- Andrew Olsson
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Nigeria national team debutant Christantus Uche fired the Super Eagles to capture the 2025 Unity Cup on Saturday, converting the winning penalty kick after Nigeria and Jamaica played to a 2-2 in the final at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, England. Uche's spot kick completed a perfect penalty shootout for the Super Eagles to overcome the Reggae Boyz.
Like the semifinal clash with Ghana, the final was an entertaining affair with both teams' attacking prowess on full display. The goals arrived early and it was the Super Eagles who flew out ahead in the 9th minute. Wilfried Ndidi's excellent pass from midfield found the run of Cyriel Dessers who crossed for Moses Simon to volley in from close range.
But the Reggae Boyz responded swiftly through Man of the Match Renaldo Cephas. The Turkish-based forward collected a pass in the midfield and accelerated past a Nigerian defender down the left wing before putting in a perfect cross to find Kaheim Dixon. The Charlton Athletic attacker was left with a simple finish after Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali dived and failed to claim the cross.
It was a similar story in the second half after the teams went into halftime all square. Nigeria got off to another perfect start when less than five minutes after second half kickoff, Samuel Chukwueze struck a low finish past Reggae Boyz keeper Shaquan Davis after a short dribble run into the corner of the Jamaican penalty area.
But Jamaica's star of the day Cephas once again displayed his pace to draw his team back level ten minutes later. The former Arnett Gardens star checked his run on the wing to receive a pass from midfield and once again created space on the left flank with another surging run. Cephas' cross was precise to find the run of Jonathan Russell to volley in and once again parity was restored.
Nothing could separate the teams in the final half hour and the match went straight to penalties after the full time whistle arrived. Nigeria only needed their opponents to fail to convert one spot kick before Getafe midfielder Uche fired in to confirm victory for the Super Eagles.
Nigeria will next face Russia in Moscow for a friendly match on June 6.
