“We’re the best in Africa” – New Super Eagles star proud of Unity Cup win

Plymouth Argyle forward Owen Oseni has spoken of his pride after helping the Super Eagles win the 2026 Unity Cup, describing his first experience with the Nigeria national team as both memorable and successful, Afrik-Foot reports.

The 23-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough tournament in London, where he made his senior international debut and helped Nigeria retain the Unity Cup title at The Valley. The competition signals the beginning of a new chapter in Oseni’s career after a strong season in English football.

Born in Waterford, Ireland, Oseni was handed his first Super Eagles appearance in Nigeria’s 2-0 semi-final victory over Zimbabwe. The introduction was a historic moment as he became the first Irish-born player to play for the senior Nigerian national team.

A few days later, he was again part of the squad as the Super Eagles defeated Jamaica 3-0 in the final to lift the trophy. Although he started the match on the bench, Oseni was fully involved in the celebrations as Nigeria completed an impressive campaign in front of a large crowd in London.

Reflecting on his first call-up and the opportunity to wear Nigeria’s colours, the striker admitted it was a special feeling because of his family roots.

“It is a massive pleasure where my father is from and playing for all these people here is a massive honour,” Oseni told Proudly Austin.

The former Waterford youngster explained that he arrived in camp with two clear objectives, to enjoy his first taste of international football and help Nigeria win silverware.

“The big goal was number one to come and enjoy myself at the Super Eagles and come and take the trophy. Obviously, I managed to do both so I am very pleased,” Oseni stated.

The striker also highlighted the winning mentality inside Eric Chelle’s squad, insisting the players believe they have what it takes to dominate African football.

“It is a team whereby they just want to succeed, where everyone knows that we are the best in Africa, and we have shown here today.

“The expectation of this team is very much being the best team in Africa and we know we have the qualities and players to do it,” he concluded.

Super Eagles: Oseni reveals Chelle’s instructions and bigger challenges

Beyond celebrating the trophy success, Oseni also shed light on the tactical approach that guided Nigeria through the competition.

According to the forward, head coach Eric Chelle kept his instructions straightforward before the final against Jamaica. Rather than overcomplicating matters, the Malian coach encouraged his players to move the ball quickly, attack with confidence and make their chances count.

“There were three things that the manager wanted from us and they were very simple things,” Oseni unveiled. “Just pass and move and when you get inside the box finish it off.”

The striker explained that the work done during training sessions helped the players understand their roles clearly while also allowing them to express themselves freely on matchday.

“Obviously in training we work on a lot of different things and we have our own methods and formations,” he said.

“Today (on Saturday), the boys were just enjoying themselves and took a lot of pressure from the game.”

Oseni’s rise to the international stage follows an impressive debut campaign with Plymouth Argyle. The centre-forward scored 10 goals and provided five assists in 33 appearances, performances that caught the attention of Chelle and earned him a place in the national team setup.

His strong finish to the season was particularly important. Three goals in his final four league matches helped cement his place in the squad selected for the Unity Cup.

The tournament success has now opened the door to even bigger opportunities. Chelle has retained Oseni in his plans for Nigeria’s upcoming international friendlies against Poland and Portugal.

Those matches are expected to provide a sterner test for the young striker, with Nigeria set to combine emerging talents from the Unity Cup squad with established stars such as Moses Simon, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi.