Nigeria secured the Unity Cup trophy after edging Jamaica 5-4 on penalties, following an exhilarating 2-2 draw in regular time at London’s Gtech Community Stadium.
The Super Eagles got off to a flying start as Moses Simon opened the scoring within minutes, but Jamaica’s Kaheim Dixon quickly equalized.
After a tense and somewhat scrappy first half, Nigeria retook the lead in the 53rd minute when Samuel Chukwueze dazzled with a brilliant solo effort.
However, the Reggae Boyz fought back once more, with Jonathan Russell finishing a precise Cephas cross in the 64th minute to level the match at 2-2.
Both teams pressed hard for a winner as the game drew to a close. Wilfred Ndidi came close for Nigeria, while Jamaica threatened on counterattacks, but neither side could break the deadlock in regulation time.
The shootout saw Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, and Tolu Arokodare convert their penalties, matched by successful kicks from Jamaica’s King, Hayden, and Morrison.
The momentum shifted when Atkinson’s penalty struck the crossbar. Bruno Onyemaechi then calmly slotted home to give Nigeria a 4-3 lead.
Though Bell kept Jamaica’s hopes alive, debutant Christantus Uche, who joined the squad late due to visa delays, sealed victory with a composed spot-kick, finalizing a 5-4 shootout win.
Uche’s composed finish capped off a strong tournament for Eric Chelle’s side, who had earlier defeated Ghana 2-1 in the semi-finals.
This triumph serves as a significant morale boost for Nigeria ahead of their international friendly against Russia scheduled for June 6.
