A brilliant brace from debutant Femi Azeez inspired the Nigeria national football team to a 2-0 victory over the Zimbabwe national football team in the semi-final of the 2026 Unity Cup in London, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The victory marked Nigeria’s first win over Zimbabwe since their 2-0 success at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Zimbabwe is also still searching for another victory against the Super Eagles since defeating Nigeria 2-0 in a friendly encounter back in 1981.
Azeez, who plays for Millwall F.C., scored in each half to send Eric Chelle’s side into Saturday’s final, where they will face either Jamaica national football team or India national football team.
The 24-year-old winger opened the scoring in the fifth minute after firing a low left-footed shot into the net following a neat lay-off from Terem Moffi.
Azeez completed his brace in the 63rd minute after another assist from Moffi, calmly slotting home from close range after the Super Eagles broke quickly down the left flank.
Head coach Éric Chelle handed four players their debuts in the starting lineup, including goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, Chibueze Oputa, Obinna Igbokwe, and match-winner Azeez.
Also named in the starting eleven were Alhassan Yusuf, Tochukwu Nnadi, Philip Otele, Samson Tijani, Chibuike Nwaiwu, and Igoh Ogbu.
Aderemi Adeoye, Owen Oseni, and Rafiu Durosinmi also made their senior debuts during the encounter.
Both Nigeria and Zimbabwe are using the Unity Cup as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Nigeria will compete in Group L alongside Tanzania, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau, while Zimbabwe is in Group E with DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Sierra Leone.