Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has emphasized that Nigeria’s national team must focus on building structure and identity rather than chasing results alone.
Reacting to Nigeria’s recent Unity Cup victory, Sodje said friendly tournaments like this are valuable tools for testing players, implementing tactical systems, and evaluating squad depth.
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“Every game for Nigeria is important, even friendlies like the Unity Cup,” Sodje said. “But the focus should not be on just winning.
It should be on building a proper system and preparing the team for serious competitions ahead.”
Sodje applauded head coach Eric Chelle for using the tournament to assess both home-based and foreign-based players, calling the mix crucial to uncovering new talent and strengthening squad unity.
While he admitted the team may not yet be fully ready for the World Cup stage, he stressed that these matches allow for experimentation and adjustment.
Nigeria recently retained the Unity Cup title after a dramatic 5-4 penalty shootout win over Jamaica in London, following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Goals came from Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze, with Jamaica replying through Kaheim Dixon and Jonathan Russell. The win marked a successful outing for the team under Chelle, who has now overseen consecutive victories in the competition.
With the trophy celebrations behind them, the Super Eagles now turn their attention to their next international friendly against Russia on Friday, June 6, at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The match is seen as another vital opportunity for Chelle to continue building chemistry, sharpening tactics, and preparing the team for the crucial World Cup qualifiers in September.
Sodje concluded by reinforcing that while victories are good, long-term success depends on structure, cohesion, and consistency in team development.
