Portugal fought a hard fight to see off Nigeria 2-1 in their final tune up game before the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets under way.
Chelsea’s Pedro Neto broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, but Nigeria responded and Akor Adams (37′) punished the home team’s sloppiness at the back.
The dagger eventually came in the second half from a brilliant solo effort. Francisco Conceição slalomed past his marker before unleashing a curler that beat Maduka Okoye.
Okoye had pulled off some brilliant saves in the game ensuring to keep the Super Eagles in the match and the scoreline respectful.
However, the Super Eagles were let off the hook as well as because Cristiano Ronaldo missed several gilt edge chances.
It was a game with several talking points and Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle will look to make some tough calls if he stays on to build a new team – he recorded his first regular time defeat.
While he was missing some important players, the lackluster show of some regulars and the newbies could hardly go unnoticed.
The defeat to Portugal itself wasn’t unimaginable, but the lack of quality in some key areas and moments of the game exposed the recurring issues which have proved costly in the past.
Punch in the Gut
Chelle or the next Super Eagles coach will need to fix the midfield which yet again showed it lacked the creative personnel to control a high pressure game or initiate and sustain attacking pressure.
Wednesday’s game in Leiria was not a good watch from the team’s midfield.
Even though Portugal’s Roberto Martinez assembled what is arguable the best mid-block in world football today, but, Nigeria’s response was hope.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Tochukwu Nnadi, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi felt like a mismatch only because when the pendulum swung, there was clearly no coordination.
Iwobi was once again vindicated as the only player with some level of appreciable ball carrying panache, his complimentary pieces where too mid.
Eagles got no Wings
Chelle’s attempt to also exploit Portugal’s attacking offloads with counter-offensive plays through the wings yielded little as his wingers and wing-backs couldn’t initiate.
Defensively, the Super Eagles look like it has an overload on the right and the left is practically limp.
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Despite his best efforts last night – in familiar territory – Bruno Onyemeachi’s hard work was undone by a second half substitution that rejigged the back line.
In familiar territory, Zaidu Sanusi came up short allowing himself be mesmerized as he hesitated 1v1 with Francisco Conceição.
The winger accepted Sanusi’s invitation, cutting inside before unleashing a left-footed zip shot which nestled in the back of the net to the disappoint of Okoye.
Pre-game Martinez had praised his opposite number and without a doubt Nigeria’s performance matched the expectations.
“The Nigerian team is very competitive, I enjoy the game against Poland. I love the ideas of the Coach; he’s flexible.
“As a team using different systems and fit different players in different positions.”
It was not a disappointing show for the Super Eagles, but, the team needs better reinforcements and Eric Chelle knows that for a fact.
