Nigeria national football team will begin their Unity Cup title defence with a semifinal clash against Zimbabwe as the four-nation tournament gets underway in London.
The Super Eagles are the defending champions of the competition and will be looking to retain the trophy this year. The tournament also features Jamaica and India and is scheduled to run from May 26 to May 30.
Nigeria’s semifinal match against Zimbabwe will take place on Tuesday, May 26, at The Valley in London, with kick-off set for 7:30 p.m. Nigerian time. The Super Eagles will be hoping to improve on their recent record against the Warriors, having drawn their last three meetings.
Head coach Eric Chelle has said the tournament goes beyond winning silverware, describing it as part of the team’s rebuilding process ahead of future competitions, including the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Chelle is expected to use the Unity Cup to test new players and strengthen squad depth. His 27-man squad includes several new faces, and Nigeria opened camp on Saturday evening with 14 players taking part in the first training session.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will also arrive with a youthful squad under interim coach Tembo, with experienced players Marvelous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi, and Gerald Takwara among the most capped in the team. The Warriors will be without Tino Kadewere due to injury, while Bill Antonio and Divine Lunga have also withdrawn and been replaced by Isheanesu Mauchi, Prosper Padera, and Washington Navaya. The winner of the match will advance to face either Jamaica or India in the Unity Cup final on May 30 at The Valley in Charlton, south-east London.
Elijah Adeyemi
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