Portugal's Coach Praises Nigeria Ahead of Friendly Match

Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez expressed high regard for Nigeria's Super Eagles coach Eric Chell in anticipation of their friendly match scheduled for Wednesday in Leiria, Portugal. This match is intended as a final tune-up for Portugal ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will compete against teams like DR Congo, Uzbekistan, and Colombia.

In contrast, Nigeria will not participate in the tournament, having missed the last two World Cups. The last encounter between the two teams was in November 2022, where Portugal defeated Nigeria 4-0 in a warm-up match.

Martinez noted the expectation of a tougher contest this time, highlighting the quality and experience of Nigerian players such as Alex Iwobi, who will be making his 100th senior appearance for the national team, and forwards like Victor Osimhen and Lookman. Portugal aims to secure their first-ever World Cup title after reaching the quarter-finals in Qatar.