Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz beat India 2-0 and book Unity Cup final spot against Nigeria

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz defeated India 2-0 today in the Unity Cup at The Valley, London and advanced to the final where they will face Nigeria on Saturday.

It was fitting that The Valley is the home of Charlton Athletics FC of which Kaheim Dixon represents and he duly obliged and scored in the 78th minute. Earlier, debutant Courtney Clarke, gave Jamaica an eighth minute lead scoring on his first start for the Reggae Boyz. The 23-year-old Clarke of Walsall Fc player was one of three players making their debuts for Jamaica along with 19-year-old Odin Samuels-Smith of Everton FC Under-21s and Dajuane Brown of Derby County who assisted with the second goal.

Clarke first goal for Jamaica on debut puts him in line with the likes of Rumarn Burrell (2025 vs Trinidad and Tobago), Kaheim Dixon (2024 vs Trinidad and Tobago), Justin McMaster (2022 vs Cameroon), Jamal Lowe (2021 vs USA) and Bobby Reid (2019 vs Antigua and Barbuda). 

It was yet another win for interim head coach Rudolph Speid, who took over after Steve McLaren resigned in November 2025. He guided Jamaica throughout the FIFA Confederation World Cup Playoffs beating New Caledonia 1-0 before losing to DR Congo 0-1 in extra time.

Jamaica will face Nigeria to decide the Unity Cup winner after the Super eagles dispatched Zimbabwe 2-0. It will be a repeat of the 2025 Unity Cup final where Nigeria defeated Jamaica 5-4 on penalties after playing to an exciting 2-2 draw in normal time.