The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), has declared the Super Eagles’ recent international outings a resounding success, highlighting the achievement of key sporting objectives. Over the past 12 days, Nigeria participated in the Four-Nation Unity Cup Tournament in London and a high-profile friendly match against Russia in Moscow, with both campaigns yielding promising results for the team’s future.
In a statement reflecting on the outings, Gusau emphasized that the primary goal was to provide the coaching staff, led by Eric Chelle, with opportunities to evaluate new talent for the Super Eagles.
“I can categorically say we achieved our sporting objectives,” Gusau stated. “The Unity Cup in London, which we won, and the draw against Russia gave the technical crew a chance to assess players who could strengthen the squad moving forward.”
The Super Eagles clinched the Unity Cup title at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, defeating Ghana’s Black Stars 2-1 in a thrilling semi-final on May 28 before edging out Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz 5-4 on penalties in the final after a 2-2 draw.
The team then traveled to Moscow, where they secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Russia at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium on Friday. Tolu Arokodare’s second-half strike canceled out an own goal by Semi Ajayi, showcasing Nigeria’s resilience.
Gusau praised the performances of both established stars and emerging talents. Newcomers like Benjamin Frederick, Felix Agu, Christantus Uche, and Igoh Ogbu impressed in London, while home-based players Papa Daniel Mustapha, Ifeanyi Onyebuchi, and Collins Ogwueze held their own.
In Moscow, Uche continued to shine, Arokodare scored a clinical goal, and goalkeeper Maduka Okoye marked a strong return. Captain William Troost-Ekong anchored the defense admirably.“
These matches have given us valuable options in defense, midfield, and attack,” Gusau noted. “The technical crew is pleased, and we are well-prepared for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.”
The NFF’s strategic approach to blending seasoned players with fresh talent has bolstered confidence in Nigeria’s prospects on the global stage.