Portugal will face off against Nigeria in a friendly match on Wednesday, June 9,at the Estadio Dr Magalhaes Pessoa in Leiria, Portugal. The match is set to kick off at 8:45 PM local time (21:45 GMT) and serves as the final warm-up before Portugal departs for the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
Under the guidance of coach Roberto Martinez,Portugal is viewed as one of the favorites to clinch the World Cup title. squad boasts notable talents,including Cristiano Ronaldo,Bruno Fernandes,and Bernardo Silva. They are eager to secure victory in this last friendly after recent 2-1 win against Chile,where both teams ended the match with ten players following a red card issued to Portugal's Rafael Leao.
While Nigeria will not be participating in the World Cup, the Super Eagles are on a six-match unbeaten streak,presenting formidable challenge for their opponents. However, they will be without key players such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman,who have been rested ahead of upcoming season. Lookman's club,Atletico Madrid, requested his absence due to a demanding schedule, while Osimhen's workload is being managed.
Portugal's World Cup journey begins next Wednesday against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston,Texas . Following that match,they will face Uzbekistan on June 23 and conclude Group K with a significant game against Colombia on June 27. team will be based in Palm Beach Gardens,Florida,for their training camp.
Nigeria's absence from the World Cup marks the second consecutive tournament they have missed,following a tumultuous qualifying campaign that saw multiple managerial changes. Despite having a talented roster, including players like Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi,Nigeria fell short in the African playoff final,losing on penalties to the DRC after a 1-1 draw.
Looking ahead,Nigeria will shift their focus to the 2027 African Cup of Nations, co-hosted by Kenya,Tanzania, and Uganda. Following a solid performance in last AFCON, where they finished third,coach Eric Chelle aims for a smoother qualification process this time around.
The last encounter between Portugal and Nigeria occurred in November 2022,also as World Cup warm-up, where Portugal triumphed 4-0 in Lisbon . Bruno Fernandes scored twice,with additional goals from Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario.
As Portugal prepares for match,they welcome back players from the Paris Saint-Germain squad, including Vitinha and Nuno Mendes, who have now joined the training camp . Despite his recent red card,Leao is available for selection against Nigeria.
The predicted starting lineup for Portugal includes goalkeeper Diogo Costa and defenders Diogo Dalot,Ruben Dias,Goncalo Inacio, and Nuno Mendes. The midfield will feature Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, and Joao Neves, while the attack is expected to consist of Bernardo Silva, Goncalo Guedes,and Pedro Neto.
Nigeria's lineup will likely include goalkeeper Maduka Okoye and defenders Bruno Onyemaechi and Igoh Ogbu. The midfield is set to feature Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, with Terem Moffi and Akor Adams leading the attack.
