By Ayomide Otitoju
Nigeria’s Super Eagles held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to defeat a resilient Jamaican side and retain the Unity Cup on Saturday in West London.
The tightly contested final at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium ended 2-2 in regulation time, with Nigeria triumphing 5-4 on penalties. The match provided fans with an electrifying display of football, set against a vibrant backdrop of music, dance, and cultural celebration.
Cyriel Dessers was instrumental in the early stages, setting up Moses Simon to open scoring in the 9th minute. Jamaica responded swiftly, with Kaheim Dixon converting from close range in the 12th minute after a powerful run and cross from Rumarn Burrell.
Dessers nearly restored Nigeria’s lead in the 23rd minute, but Jamaican goalkeeper Shaquan Davis held firm.
The Super Eagles struck again early in the second half through Samuel Chukwueze, who weaved past several defenders before slotting the ball into the far corner. But Jamaica once again clawed back, as Jonathan Russell capitalised on a well-orchestrated move down the right flank.
With both sides level at full time, the match was decided by penalties. Nigeria’s Kelechi Iheanacho, Moses Simon, Tolu Arokodare, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Christantus Uche all converted their spot kicks, while Jamaica missed their fourth attempt, sealing Nigeria’s victory.
The win comes exactly 21 years after the Super Eagles defeated the Reggae Boyz 2-0 in a similar fixture at Charlton Athletic’s The Valley, thanks to goals from John Utaka and Bartholomew Ogbeche.
Nigeria reached the final after a 2-0 semi-final victory over Ghana, while Jamaica edged past Trinidad and Tobago 3-2 with a last-minute penalty in their own semi-final clash.
The Unity Cup continues to serve as a platform for fostering cultural ties and showcasing African and Caribbean football talent.
