Nigeria defeated Jamiaca 3-0 to claim another Unity Cup title at The Valley on Saturday. With all eyes on Budapest and the Champions League final, there was a trophy to be won in south London, and the Super Eagles retained their crown with a comfortable win.
Alhassan Yusuf netted a brace for Eric Chelle’s side, who are still coming to terms with the fact that they will not be playing at this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, while Terem Moffi also nodded home from Femi Azeez’s cross as the African side ran riot in the second half.
It was a game lacking in any real quality, but the flashes of brilliance on show from some of Nigeria’s lesser-known stars had them coasting past their final opponents. Jamaica had a penalty claim waved away as Arthur Okwonkwo clattered Kaheim Dixon as the forward latched onto a loose ball amid uncertainty at the back for the holders. Yusuf netted late in second-half stoppage time to wrap up a fourth Unity Cup for the Super Eagles, who are set for a summer on the sofa.
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Unity Cup 2025: Final
In the final, Nigeria were held by Jamaica 2-2, and we’ll be hoping for as entertaining an affair as that this evening.
Moses Simon opened the scoring for the Super Eagles on nine minutes before Kaheim Dixon levelled for Jamaica just three minutes later.
Fulham winger Samuel Chukwueze then regained Nigeria’s lead, only for Jonathan Russell to equalise ten minutes after.
It went down to spot-kicks, where Dwayne Atkinson missed the crucial penalty for Jamaica, as Nigeria converted all five of theirs.
Christantus Uche, now of Crystal Palace, netted the decisive kick from 12 yards to clinch the title.
Unity Cup 2025: Third-place play-off
Ghana and Trinidad faced off in the third-place play-off, and the Black Stars hammered their opponents.
Jordan Ayew, the former Crystal Palace and current Leicester City striker, opened the scoring, while Razak Simpson attoned for his semi-final own goal with the second in a 4-0 win.
Unity Cup 2025: Last year's semi-finals
Richard King’s stoppage-time penalty sent Jamaica through to the final in an enthralling semi against Trinidad, while Cyriel Dessers and Brandon Thomas-Asante both scored for Nigeria and Ghana. It was Razak Simpson’s own goal that was the decider, sending the Super Eagles into the final.
Unity Cup history: 2025 contd.
Nigeria claimed a third title in west London with a narrow penalty victory over Jamaica in the final, which ended 2-2 after extra time.
They had seen off Ghana 2-1 in the semi-finals, while Jamaica beat Trinidad 3-2 in an entertaining last-fiour encounter.
Unity Cup history: 2025
Last year, the Unity Cup returned after 21 years away.
It was held at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium home, and Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago made their bows.
Their inclusion, along with Nigeria and Jamaica, were supposed to represent countries with large London diasporas.
Unity Cup history: 2004
The second coming of this competition came two years later in 2004.
It fleshed out to three teams, with the Republic of Ireland the shock inclusion.
The tournament was held at The Valley, and featured a round-robin layout, with teams playing the other two once.
Nigeria retained their title with two wins from two, beating Ireland 3-0 and Jamaica 2-0. Obafemi Martins was on target against the Irish.
Ireland then defeated the Reggae Boyz to clinch second place in the table.