Femi Azeez don fly enter Super Eagles with style. Di 24-year-old Millwall forward score two goals against Zimbabwe for di Unity Cup at The Valley Stadium for London. Na im first match for Nigeria, and e no waste time to show say e get something for di bag.
With 19 goals contribution (11 goals and eight assists) for di just-concluded English Championship, Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle no get choice but to call am. Azeez even make di Championship Player of di Season list. Chelle describe di two-goal hero as bright prospect wey go make long career for national team if e remain focused for im game.
“If I wake up with good state of mind, and I want him for di team for di Portugal and Poland games, I go say yes, but if I no want am, I go say no,” di Malian coach yarn. Azeez score twice for im Nigeria debut against Zimbabwe to help di team reach di Unity Cup final. Di Millwall forward put di recent Championship play-off heartbreak aside and grab im opportunity for international stage with both hands, opening scoring inside five minutes before giving Super Eagles breathing space just after di hour mark.
Nigeria, wey don win all three previous editions of di Unity Cup, go defend dia crown against Jamaica for today’s final at Charlton’s The Valley stadium. Failure to qualify for dis summer’s World Cup for North America don give Nigeria coach chance to rebuild. “Dis Unity Cup na for us, dis no be question about winning di trophy,” Chelle yarn for di pre-match press conference. “I get goal and objective for dis tournament, for these two friendly games. Di first objective na giving opportunity, chance to show wetin we fit do and wetin we fit improve with our team. Dere be some new players wey I want to give di chance to show something. Dis na our main goal. Di second objective, of course, when you play, you want to win.”
Im first goal come after just five minutes, as im left-footed strike from just outside di box arrow past Future Sibanda and enter bottom corner. Den just after di hour mark and, against di run of play, Azeez tap home from Terem Moffi cross to wrap up di victory for di Super Eagles, setting di West Africans on dia way to completing both objectives wey Chelle set.
Despite Azeez match-winning brace against Zimbabwe, Chelle express some dissatisfaction with im overall contribution for Tuesday’s Unity Cup, faulting di 24-year-old failure to execute im tactical instructions before e be substituted. “Di first objective na for am to run today; dis na wetin I ask of dem,” Chelle yarn. “Di second instruction na to press high, but during di 90 minutes, dem no do am. We get to analyse di performance, particularly Azeez’s. I know e score two goals, so congratulations to am. But e lose possession far too often, technically, so I no happy. E win di ball back at times, but other times e no do am, so I no happy. But for im debut, I fit say congratulations to am.”
When dem ask whether Azeez don do enough to earn spot for di squad for Nigeria upcoming friendlies against Poland and Portugal for June, Chelle be deliberately vague. “If I want am for di games against Portugal and Poland, I go say yes. But if I no want am, I go say no,” e yarn. Azeez performance reflect di outstanding season wey e get with Millwall, and e full of optimism about wetin dey ahead with di Super Eagles. “Di manager give us freedom, especially for di final third, to do wetin we want and express ourselves. Dat na why we dey here at di end of di day,” Azeez tell Nigeria Football Weekly. “When Moffi pass di ball back to me, and I see dat, I go for am. I no even think twice. I just go for am.”
With most of di Super Eagles regulars expected to return for di June friendlies against Portugal and Poland, Azeez also relish playing in role wey be more commonly associated with Ademola Lookman. “I never really play for dat position before, I go be honest,” Azeez reveal. “But over di last few days for training, I really enjoy am. Di management and technical staff help me feel my way into di role. As soon as I touch di ball and get comfortable with my surroundings, I fit show wetin I fit do. I just want to represent dis country, do as well as I fit, and play for front of these fans. E incredible.”
Born for London to Nigerian father and Spanish mother, di 24-year-old winger officially commit im international future to Nigeria earlier dis year despite eligibility to represent England and Spain. But di road to dis moment no be easy. Azeez be released from Watford academy at age 14, setback wey fit don end im football dreams early. Im persistence finally pay off after joining Millwall, where e explode into form during di 2025/2026 Championship season.
Meanwhile, Premier League clubs wey include Everton, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Brighton and Fulham don dey listed among Premier League clubs interested to sign di 24-year-old, with Sunderland being di latest Premier League club to be linked with Azeez. Di winger na one of Millwall standout performers for di English Championship during di 2025/26 season, scoring 11 goals and providing eight assists for 37 league appearances for di Lions, wey narrowly miss out on promotion to di Premier League. Dem lose 2-0 on aggregate to Hull City for di semi-final of di Championship playoff. Di Nigerian impressive performances earn am place for di Sky Bet Championship Team of di Season. According to reports, Millwall go only consider substantial offer for di former Reading player. Di Lions dey expect to demand fee for di region of €20m from interested clubs.
Azeez begin im football journey at age nine but be released from Watford youth system at 14. E begin im senior career with non-league side Northwood. After making 12 appearances for im debut season, e sign for fellow non-league club Wealdstone for 2018. Following im spell at Wealdstone, wey include loan move to Hanwell Town for 2018, e join Reading for 2019. E later be loaned to Bracknell Town before making im senior debut for Reading for 2021. E become important part of di team during di 2023/24 season before signing for Millwall for 2024. At Millwall, Azeez enjoy breakthrough campaign for di just-concluded season, recording 11 goals and seven assists for 37 Championship games. E be named di EFL Championship Player of di Month for February 2026 after registering five goal contributions for five matches. E also get younger brother, Miguel Azeez, wey play as midfielder for National League club Morecambe. Di younger Azeez begin im career for Arsenal youth academy at age five. On September 24, 2019, e sign im first professional contract with Arsenal. E make im first-team debut on December 10, 2020, replacing Joe Willock for di 83rd minute of 4-2 UEFA Europa League win over Irish side Dundalk at di Aviva Stadium.
For Azeez, im rise during di just-concluded Championship season don also make am transfer subject, with former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney tipping am for move to di Premier League. “I think Femi Azeez na one of those players wey fit step up,” Rooney yarn. “E be player wey I don watch, and I really like am. E be intelligent football player, and I think to go and play for di Premier League, you need dat intelligence to be able to find space, take di ball and be match-winner. I think e be one player wey dey more suited to di Premier League.” How well Azeez establish himself as Super Eagles regular remain to be seen. However, im explosive start for di Unity Cup and move to di English top tier go definitely add as booster.
