Former Super Eagles defender Abiodun Obafemi has emphasized the importance of treating every national team match with seriousness, stating that even friendly tournaments like the Unity Cup serve as vital benchmarks for progress.
Speaking after Nigeria’s dramatic Unity Cup triumph in London, Obafemi said the competition gave the coaching crew an ideal opportunity to assess players and test systems in preparation for major competitions such as the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup qualifiers.
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Obafemi, a member of Nigeria’s 1996 Olympic gold medal-winning team, praised head coach Eric Chelle for blending home-based and foreign-based players during the tournament.
He commended the tactical experimentation and the chance given to new players to prove themselves.
“Every match counts. It’s not just about the result; it’s about how we use games like this to prepare for bigger challenges. The Unity Cup showed promise, but there’s still work to be done,” he said.
Nigeria retained the Unity Cup after a thrilling 5-4 penalty shootout win over Jamaica following a 2-2 draw in regulation time. Moses Simon opened the scoring in the 9th minute before Jamaica’s Kaheim Dixon equalized three minutes later.
Samuel Chukwueze put the Super Eagles back in front in the 53rd minute, only for Jonathan Russell to level things up again for the Reggae Boyz.
Nigeria held their nerve in the shootout to lift the trophy.
With the celebration behind them, the Super Eagles now turn their attention to a friendly match against Russia, set for Friday, June 6, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. Coach Chelle is expected to use the game to refine his tactical setup and continue building a team capable of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
