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Nigeria’s Super Eagles face one of the biggest tests of Eric Chelle’s reign when they take on Portugal in an international friendly at the Estádio Municipal de Leiria on June 10, Afrik-Foot reports.

The match comes just days before Portugal begin their campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and offers the Europeans one final opportunity to sharpen their preparations. It is also a chance for Nigeria to measure progress against one of the strongest teams in world football.

Head to Head

Portugal 4 - 0 Nigeria 17 November 2022


The two countries have met only once at senior level. That encounter ended in a painful 4-0 defeat for Nigeria in Lisbon on November 17, 2022. Goals from Bruno Fernandes, Gonçalo Ramos and João Mário secured a comfortable victory for the Portuguese, while Nigeria missed a penalty through Emmanuel Dennis.

Key details
Name: Portugal national football team
Nickname: Seleção das Quinas
Head coach: Roberto Martínez
Captain: Cristiano Ronaldo
FIFA rankings: 5th
Biggest win: Portugal 9-0 Luxembourg (2023)



Name; Nigeria national football team
Nickname: Super Eagles
Head coach Eric Chelle
Captain: Wilfred Ndidi
Fifa Ranking: 26th
Biggest win: Nigeria 10:-0 Sao Tome and Principe

Portugal’s best players to watch

Cristiano Ronaldo
Even at 41, Ronaldo remains Portugal’s biggest attraction. His movement inside the penalty area, aerial ability and relentless desire to score continue to make him dangerous. Nigeria’s central defenders cannot afford even a moment of hesitation when crosses enter the box.

Nice one ,it will be a cracker.

guobe:
Nice one ,it will be a cracker.

Portugal are using the friendly against Nigeria to fine-tune their preparations and tactical approach ahead of their World Cup opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo, who secured their place at the tournament after narrowly defeating the Super Eagles in the final of the African playoffs.

Portugal line up vs Nigeria

The high-profile international friendly between Portugal and Nigeria is scheduled to take place on June 10, 2026. Because the match has not yet been played, the starting lineups are yet to be finalized.

However, both nations have named their official squads.For an analysis of the squad preparations and how the Portugal team is expected to line up against the Super

Eagles:NIGERIA VS PORTUGAL(CONFIRMED ...11K views · 5 Jun 2026YouTube · SPORTS FILA59

sPortugal Squad

Head coach Roberto Martínez selected a 27-man roster for this summer's World Cup warm-ups.

Goalkeepers:
Diogo Costa (FC Porto),
José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers),
Rui Silva (Real Betis),
Ricardo Velho.

Defenders:
Nélson Semedo, Rúben Dias (Manchester City),
Tomás Araújo, Diogo Dalot, Renato Veiga, Gonçalo Inácio, João Cancelo, Samuel Costa.

Midfielders:
Matheus Nunes (Manchester City),
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City),
Rúben Neves, Vitinha, João Neves.

Forwards:
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), João Félix, Francisco Trincão, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, Gonçalo Guedes, Francisco Conceição, Gonçalo Ramos.


Nigeria Squad
Nigeria manager Eric Chelle is bringing a strong roster to Leiria, though the Super Eagles will be without several key players, including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, who withdrew after long club seasons.

Goalkeepers:
Francis Uzoho, Arthur Okonkwo, Maduka Okoye.

Defenders:
Zaidu Sanusi, Wilfred Ndidi, Semi Ajayi, Emmanuel Fernandez, Calvin Bassey.

Midfielders:
Abdullahi Bewene, Frank Onyeka, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tochukwu Nnadi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Raphael Onyedika.

Forwards:
Philip Otele, Terem Moffi, Moses Simon, Paul Onuachu, Akor Adams.

robosky02:
Portugal are using the friendly against Nigeria to fine-tune their preparations and tactical approach ahead of their World Cup opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo, who secured their place at the tournament after narrowly defeating the Super Eagles in the final of the African playoffs.

Nice one, it will be an interesting match up

Has Stanley Nwabali been frozen out of the Eagles?

No mention of him on this list.

He's clubless and probably out of shape, inviting him will be a massive risk so take it like he's out injured

Doyou2019:
Has Stanley Nwabali been frozen out of the Eagles?

No mention of him on this list.

I hope Ronaldo won't use us shine for here o. Instead of us to jejely go and play the World Cup, we lost to our junior.

Tinubu's bad luck followed them to the matches big time.

oloriooko:
He's clubless and probably out of shape, inviting him will be a massive risk so take it like he's out injured

Oh wow, this is not good for his career.

All that exploit at AFCON and he is in this state!

robosky02:
https://www.afrik-foot.com/en-ng/nigeria-portugal-super-eagles-chelle-ndidi

Portugal go collect wotowoto

geoworldedu:
I hope Ronaldo won't use us shine for here o. Instead of us to jejely go and play the World Cup, we lost to our junior.

Tinubu's bad luck followed them to the matches big time.

Ronaldo won't play he's injury 🤕

Justrite007:
Ronaldo won't play he's injury 🤕

Ah!!! I want him to play o, at least to make the world cup more interesting

geoworldedu:
Ah!!! I want him to play o, at least to make the world cup more interesting

Make in no play abeg I no wan lose my bet

Okay. Nice one. Hope ORORO will be in the line-up

it will be an exciting match.

Nigeria edging a win offcourse

REST IN PIECES TO NIGERIA

that nigeria world cup preparation for 2031

Starboytwo:
it will be an exciting match.

Nigeria edging a win offcourse

Nigeria will just fight to get a decent outing
Cos last time out was


0-4

EponObi:
World cup participants just dey use Nigeria do practice

Better than nothing. Why are they not using Chad or Botswana ? The nations cup showed we are a very strong side. At least our boys are still playing international football.

Starboytwo:
it will be an exciting match.

Nigeria edging a win offcourse

If we will it will be extremely huge all over the world

robosky02:
Nigeria will just fight to get a decent outing
Cos last time out was


0-4

I doubt if they can score that many against NIgeria even with Messi in the team they only beat us by one goal generally. I think they gave us 3-1 at a world cup. Messi will be missing us after they always put us in the same group

Doyou2019:
Has Stanley Nwabali been frozen out of the Eagles?

No mention of him on this list.

These things happen. Na turn by turn

If Nigeria win Portugal come Wednesday friendly they will be ranked in the top 10. I just hope they win it

190:
which nigeria?

who wan give them visa take enter usa when portugal are already there!

Maybe its another Nigeria because these current batch of players no sabi

Always badmouthing Ur own, that's why these guys don't rate us well, pls for once change Ur perspective on the way U look Ur country men, U no go die if U do so