Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has declared that Nigeria will approach Wednesday’s international friendly against Portugal with confidence and a clear football identity, insisting that his side should not be regarded as underdogs.
Nigeria will take on Portugal at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria in a high-profile clash expected to test the Super Eagles against one of Europe’s top national teams ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Speaking before the encounter, Chelle stressed that the focus of his team is not on reputation or status, but on implementing their style of play and football philosophy.
“We are not a small team, we come into the game with our strengths and weaknesses,” Chelle said.
“This is not a question of who is the best team, I’m only thinking about our style and our philosophy. It would be a great game.”
The match represents Portugal’s final warm-up fixture before the start of the FIFA World Cup, while Nigeria continue preparations for future international competitions after narrowly missing out on qualification for the mundial.
Under Chelle, the Super Eagles have shown signs of progress, remaining unbeaten in recent matches and recording victories against Zimbabwe, Jamaica, and Poland, while also successfully retaining the Unity Cup.
Portugal, led by Roberto Martínez, are also enjoying strong form and are expected to parade a star-studded squad as they fine-tune preparations for the World Cup.
Nigeria and Portugal have met only once previously at senior level, with the Portuguese side securing a 4-0 win in an international friendly played in Lisbon in November 2022.
Wednesday’s encounter is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm Nigerian time.
