The Super Eagles beat the Warriors of Zimbabwe 2-0 on Tuesday night in the opening match and the first semi-final of the Unity Cup at The Valley, the home ground of Charlton Athletic, with debutant Femi Azeez scoring both goals.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle sent out a barely recognisable squad in the first game in his defence of the trophy that he won with the three-time African champions a year ago, with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, defender Chibueze Oputa and forward Femi Azeez earning their first caps for the country.
Azeez, who plays for Millwall FC in the English Championship, put the Super Eagles in the lead after only five minutes, when he finished off a great team move with a left-footed effort that goalkeeper Future Sibanda could not stop.
Azeez and USA-based midfielder Alhassan Yusuf came close four minutes later, but Sibanda was able to ward off the danger this time.
Eight minutes later, Marshall Munetsi had sight of the Super Eagles goal, but saw his shot blocked by Turkey-based centre-back Chibuike Nwaiwu.
Nwaiwu combined with Czech Republic-based Igoh Ogbu and home-boys Oputa and Igboke to make the Nigeria defence impregnable.
Jordan Zemura shot over the bar in the 32nd minute, and 10 minutes later, Nwaiwu had to produce a solid tackle inside the box to stop the advancing Junior Zindoga.
Germany-based forward Philip Otele and midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi came close late on in the first half, but the Warriors kept the scoreline low going into recess.
In the second half, Azeez netted his and Nigeria’s second of the night after beating Sibanda in the box following another swift team move, with Otele finding Terem Moffi who then located the Millwall man in the vital area.
In the 71st minute, Okonkwo had to stretch full length to deny the Warriors, as they poured forward in numbers searching to minimize the damage.
As the Super Eagles kept control of the proceedings, Chelle gave opportunities to Tosin Oyedokun, Owen Oseni, Rafiu Durosinmi and Aderemi Adeoye to also earn their first caps for Nigeria.
In Saturday’s final at the same venue, the Super Eagles will take on the winners of Wednesday’s second semi-final between last year’s runners-up Jamaica and India.
