Femi Azeez marked his debut for Nigeria in style by scoring twice as the Super Eagles defeated Zimbabwe in The Valley to book a place in the final of the 2026 Unity Cup.
The 24-year-old forward delivered a decisive performance on his first appearance for the national team, helping Eric Chelle’s side secure qualification for Saturday’s final, which will also be held at the same venue.
Azeez’s two goals proved the difference in a tightly contested encounter and earned him praise for his attacking impact on the night. However, despite the standout display, Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle offered a mixed assessment of the player’s overall performance.
While acknowledging the importance of the striker’s contribution in front of goal, Chelle also made clear that he expects greater consistency and work rate from the forward in future matches.
“Congratulations to Azeez on his brace,” Chelle started. “Our objective was to ensure they run a lot and play a high pressure game for 90minutes, they did not do this.
“We will analyze his performance; he lost ball a lot and couldn’t win some back – I was not happy.
“If I wake up with a good state of mind and I want him in the team for the Portugal and Poland friendlies he’ll get called up or not.”
The comments underline the competitive environment within the national team setup, with Chelle indicating that future selections will depend heavily on tactical discipline and overall contribution, not just goal-scoring output.
Despite the criticism, Azeez’s debut remains a significant moment in his international career, with his brace ensuring Nigeria’s progression to the final of the competition.
At club level, Azeez is coming off a productive campaign with Millwall FC, where he played a key role in their push for Premier League promotion. The versatile midfielder registered 19 goal contributions during the regular Championship season, scoring 11 goals and providing 8 assists across 35 league appearances.
Millwall ultimately fell short in the playoffs, being eliminated by Hull City, but Azeez’s form throughout the season helped establish him as one of the standout performers in the squad.
His strong club performances and impactful international debut have placed him firmly in the spotlight, though Chelle’s post-match comments suggest there is still work to be done if he is to secure a regular place in the Super Eagles setup.
Nigeria will now turn their attention to Saturday’s Unity Cup final, where Azeez will hope to build on his impressive introduction to international football and strengthen his case for future call-ups, including the upcoming friendlies against Portugal and Poland referenced by the coach.
The final offers another opportunity for the young forward to respond on the pitch, as Nigeria aim to cap their tournament with silverware following their victory over Zimbabwe.
