Nigeria 2-0 Zimbabwe: Femi Azeez scores twice on debut as Super Eagles reach Unity Cup final | OneFootball

Arthur Okonkwo impresses on debut as Super Eagles reach Unity Cup final

Femi Azeez scored twice on his Nigeria debut against Zimbabwe to help seal a place in the Unity Cup final.

The Millwall forward put the recent Championship play-off heartbreak to one side and grabbed his opportunity on the international stage with both hands, opening the scoring inside five minutes before giving the Super Eagles breathing space just after the hour mark.

Failure to qualify for this summer’s World Cup in North America has afforded Nigeria manager Eric Chelle the chance to rebuild.

"This Unity Cup for us, this is not a question about winning the trophy," Chelle said during the pre-match press conference. "I have a goal and objective for this tournament, for these two friendly games.

“The first objective is giving an opportunity, a chance to show what we can do and what we can improve with our team.

"There are some new players that I want to give the chance to show something. This is our main goal. The second objective, of course, when you play, you want to win."

Among the players in the first objective; Arthur Okonkwo. The goalkeeper has enjoyed a fine season for Wrexham and after switching his allegiance from England last month, was handed his senior international debut.

The 24-year-old was rarely tested throughout, but certainly impressed many Nigeria supporters on social media with his calmness in possession.

Though, the evening belonged to another debutant in Azeez. His first goal came after just five minutes as his left-footed strike from just outside the box arrowed past Future Sibanda and into the bottom corner.

Nigeria should have extended their advantage before the break and were almost punished for not doing so when Zimbabwe went close to an equaliser early in the second half and also had a penalty claim waved away.

Then just after the hour mark and, against the run of play, Azeez tapped home from a Terem Moffi cross to wrap up the victory for the Super Eagles, setting the west Africans on their way to completing both objectives set out by Chelle.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will rue to taking advantage when on top at the start of the second half but will return to The Valley on Saturday for the third-place play-off.