Unity Cup, Russian games aimed to put Super Eagles in shape – NFF

Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Mohammed Sanusi, has said that the Unity Cup tournament which recently held in London and the friendly game with the Russian national team are deliberate means to keep Super Eagles players in shape and make necessary use of the FIFA windows.

Sanusi, in an exclusive interview with Sporting Tribune in Abuja, said the friendlies also provided Coach Eric Chelle the opportunity to assess new players he may want to bring to the national team in anticipation for the World Cup qualifiers resuming in September this year.

The three-time AFCON winners have not had it easy in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers as they currently occupied the fourth position in group C behind South Africa, Benin Republic and Rwanda and after six matches, have accumulated only seven points. Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the World Cup dimmed after they were held to a disappointing home draw by Zimbabwe.

“We deliberately want to make sure that we keep our team in good shape. And one of it is to make sure that we capitalize on all the FIFA windows. Since we cannot have them at the time we want them and they are playing for their various clubs, the only time we can have them is during the FIFA windows.

“That’s why we made efforts to make sure that we utilise them. And for the coach to see the new players that he wants to bring to the team. I believe Nigerians are happy with what they saw and that is the essence of it. To keep them in shape, to keep them united and to keep them bonded,” the NFF scribe told Sporting Tribune.

Nigeria won the Unity Cup defeating eternal rivals, Black Stars of Ghana by 2 goals to 1 before flying over the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica 5-4 through penalty shoot outs after the regulation time ended 2-2. The Eric Chelle’s boys also held their own against the Russian national team recording a 1-1 scoreline.