Jamaica twice came back from behind to level at 2-2 but eventually lost 5-4 on penalties to defending champions, Nigeria, in the Unity Cup final played at   Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium in west London on Saturday evening.

Moses Simon put Nigeria ahead after nine minutes. But the Jamaicans responded with Kaheim Dixon three minutes later.

The first half ended 1-1. Samuel Chukwueze restored Nigeria’s lead in the 53rd minute. Again, Jamaica responded and levelled up in the 63rd minute through Jonathan Russell.

With scores at 2-2 at regulation time, Nigeria beat Jamaica 5-4 on penalties to retain the trophy they won in the last edition 21 years ago. At the time, Nigeria had beaten Jamaica 2-0.

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Nigeria, winner of the only previous edition in the year 2004, will seek to retain their title against the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica in a potentially explosive Unity Cup Invitational Tournament final match at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium in west London on Saturday evening.

This year’s tournament has delivered handsomely on the sporting, cultural and friendship platforms, fulfilling most of the objectives of the organizers for different races in the United Kingdom to bond better and experience cutting-edge entertainment in an atmosphere of sheer euphoria and no-strings-attached camaraderie.

Neither the Reggae Boyz nor the Super Eagles had it easy making it into the final, as they were stretched to the limit by the Soca Warriors and the Black Stars respectively. The Boyz led 2-0 against the Warriors, only to see their opponents draw level, and had to wait for a fortuitous added-time penalty to emerge victorious.

The Eagles also led 2-0, after only 19 minutes, and looked to be coasting to a resounding win, only to take their feet off the pedal. Ghana’s youthful ensemble, led by the veteran Jordan Ayew, had the momentum for much of the second half, and after a well-taken goal by Brandon Thomas Asante, came very close to netting the equalizer in added time, only for goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to rise to the occasion.

The stands at Gtech on Saturday evening will be a sea of green-and-white and yellow-and-black, but more than that, a festival of dancing, drumming, high decibel-singing and competitive spirit in an exhilarating atmosphere are guaranteed. Off the pitch, a lot of wrist-pumping and chest-bumping will be in motion.

Nigeria’s victory over bitter regional rivals Ghana on Wednesday was identical to their win over the same opponents in a friendly match in the Moroccan city of Marrakech in March last year, and even saw Cyriel Dessers, who scored the first against the Stars 10 months ago, doing the same on Wednesday with greater poise.

On Saturday, Coach Eric Chelle will not only be looking for a third win in four matches for three-time African champions Nigeria. The prospect of holding a trophy after only four matches in charge makes it more appealing.     

Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, defenders Waliu Ojetoye and Junior Nduka, midfielder Saviour Isaac and forwards Tolu Arokodare, Nathan Tella and Adamu Abubakar who sat out the win over Ghana will be hopeful of getting minutes, alongside Germany-based wing-back Felix Agu, now cleared to represent Nigeria. Former junior international Benjamin Frederick, called up in place of the absent Christantus Uche, will also be hopeful of seeing action at some point.

Nigeria and Jamaica enlivened the city of Kingston in a memorable 2-2 draw in a friendly match prior to the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals in France.

The Super Eagles continued their unbeaten streak against the Black Stars. The Ghana Black Stars last beat the Nigeria Super Eagles in 2010.

Both teams again ignited an electric atmosphere at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford on Wednesday, with the Super Eagles coming out top in a sweet 2-1 victory that sent them into Saturday’s final. It made it five times in a row that Ghana have been unable to secure a victory over their West African rivals.

 A rapturous evening in West London began at a frenetic pace, with Cyriel Dessers asking hard questions of the Ghanaian defence, and it was not long before he got his reward.

 In the 14^th minute, defender Sodiq Ismaila darted to the right wing and sent the ball into the box, and Dessers took full advantage of a defender who slipped while trying to clear the ball, chested down brilliantly and fired past goalkeeper Benjamin Asare.

Five minutes later, another audacious move resulted in another goal. Samuel Chukwueze sent the ball into the box from a free-kick 25 yards out, and defender Semi Ajayi’s header saw the ball deflected off the body of a defender to wrongfoot Asare for Nigeria’s second.

Now in the ascendancy, the Super Eagles could have increased the tally two minutes later, but the exciting Dessers saw his cross into the box begging for connection.

A roar went out from the large Ghanaian population in the stadium when goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a mistake while trying to kick the ball to defender Igoh Ogbu, but the South Africa-based safe hands made a one-handed save to parry the resulting effort away from goal.

Asare denied Sikiru Alimi in the 32^nd minute, and at the other end, the Remo Stars’ forward was on hand to head the ball to safety as Ghana launched with a free-kick from the left.

Skipper Jordan Ayew was a thorn in the Eagles’ flesh throughout the second half, with deft touches that left the Super Eagles’ defenders flummoxed at times, and his combination with Christopher Bonsu Baah and Brandon Thomas Asante eventually produced the Black Stars’ only goal with 20 minutes left. Ayew came pretty close to netting the equaliser in the 77^th minute but missed the target.  

Nigeria will square up to Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz in Saturday’s final, while the Black Stars take on the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place match starting at 12.30 pm.

Jamaica edged another thrilling game on Tuesday, beating the Soca Warriors 3-2 with a penalty kick in added time, and will file out against the Super Eagles at 5 pm on Saturday.