Defending champions Nigeria national football team will begin their Unity Cup campaign with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe national football team at The Valley on Tuesday, with a place in the final against either Jamaica national football team or India national football team at stake.
The super eagle took to their x handle to share a shot of their preparation for the unity cup
Head coach Eric Chelle arrives with momentum despite being without several established names. Nigeria’s last major tournament ended in disappointment after a semi-final exit at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations against Morocco on penalties, before recovering to secure third place against Egypt.
Since then, the Super Eagles have remained productive in attack, recording four wins from six matches in 2026 and scoring 10 goals. Their recent friendlies have also produced goals consistently, with both teams scoring in seven of their last eight non-competitive matches.
Zimbabwe, coached by Kaitano Tembo, arrive with renewed confidence after consecutive victories over Botswana and Zambia’s Under-23 side. Although they exited AFCON 2025 at the group stage, recent performances suggest a more organised and competitive outfit.
History points to another tight encounter. The last two meetings between Nigeria and Zimbabwe during World Cup qualifying both ended 1-1, and three consecutive meetings between the nations have finished level.
With Nigeria defending their crown and Zimbabwe eager to spoil the party, expectations are building for an open and entertaining contest in London.
Team News
Chelle has named a separate squad for the Unity Cup from the one selected for Nigeria’s upcoming June friendlies against Poland and Portugal, with several high-profile absences notable across both groups.
Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze are all absent from the Unity Cup squad, while Stanley Nwabali, currently without a club, has been left out of both selections, a factor that is likely to have influenced his exclusion.
The squad does include experienced names such as captain Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon, Bruno Onyemaechi and Akor Adams, while a number of new faces have been handed opportunities, among them goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, defenders Chibueze Oputa, Elias Ochobi, midfielder Samson Tijani and forward Rafiu Durosinmi.
For Zimbabwe, interim coach Tembo has named a 23-man squad with a youthful profile, with captain Marvelous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi and Gerald Takwara the most experienced members of the group, each having made 38 appearances for the Warriors.
Divine Lunga and Bill Antonio have withdrawn from the squad, while Tino Kadewere is unavailable through injury.
Washington Navaya, Prosper Padera and Isheanesu Mauchi have come in as replacements, and Abubakar Moffat could be in line for his international debut.
Possible Lineups
Nigeria possible starting lineup:
Uzoho; Onyemaechi, Fernandez, Ogbu, Oputa; Ndidi, Al Hassan, Onyedika, Simon; Moffi, Adams
Zimbabwe possible starting lineup:
Chipezeze; Fusire, Takwara, Garananga, Zemura; Munetsi, Nakamba; Chirewa, Maswanhise, Msendami; Dube
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV Stream |
| Kick-off Time | 19:30 (WAT) |
Match Predictions
Softfootball predicts Nigeria 2-0 Zimbabwe
Three consecutive draws against Nigeria in the head-to-head record, including both World Cup qualifier meetings, suggest Zimbabwe are more than capable of making life difficult for the Super Eagles – and with Osimhen, Lookman and Chukwueze all absent, Chelle is without his most dangerous attacking weapons.
Nigeria’s U17 women’s team, the Flamingos, delivered a commanding statement in their quest to reach the 2026 FIFA U‑17 Women’s World Cup, defeating Guinea 5–0 in the first leg of their qualifying tie.
