The World Cup is already at the corner and every participating country is warming up through friendly matches with other countries, and Portugal is getting ready as well.
They will be facing the Super Eagles of Nigeria in a friendly game on Wednesday, 10th June and the match will be at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, at 20:45 BST.
According to reports, the Portuguese national team head coach Roberto Martínez is expected to have his full squad available for this game, although he did not have five of his players for the game against Chile at Estádio Nacional on Saturday but Portugal still won 2-1.
This will be Roberto Martínez’s 40th game as the coach of Portugal, the Portugal team have won 29 games drawn four games and lost six games since Roberto Martínez started coaching them in 2023. When Bruno Fernandes scored a goal against Chile it was the goal for Portugal, under Roberto Martínez’s leadership. The Portugal team, also known as the Seleção are doing well under Roberto Martínez.
Portugal Squad
The likes of Matheus Nunes of Manchester City just recovered from gastroenteritis to take part in Portugal’s recovery training session on Sunday morning.
And also, the Paris Saint-Germain quartet Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Vitinha and Gonçalo Ramos trained in the afternoon which means Roberto Martínez has a full squad available on Monday.
Goalkeepers: Ricardo Velho, Diogo Costa, Rui Silva, José Sá
Defenders: João Cancelo, Diogo Dalot, , Nélson Semedo, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Inácio, Rúben Dias, Tomás Araújo, Matheus Nunes
Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva Rúben Neves, Samuel Costa, João Neves, Vitinha
Forwards: Gonçalo Guedes, Pedro Neto, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Rafael Leão, Cristiano Ronaldo
Nigeria Form
Coming to the giants of African football, Nigeria finished one point behind South Africa in the World Cup qualifiers, where the super Eagles snuck into the second round on goal difference, just one goal separating them from Burkina Faso.
The Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen recorded two goals in extra time as the Super Eagles edged past Gabon 4-1 in the semi-finals. Unfortunately when they met DR Congo in the final, the match ended 1-1 after extra time before going down in a penalty shootout.
The side managed by the Franco-malian tactician won their opening five matches at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. They ran into host Morocco in the semi-finals, outplayed in Rabat but able to earn a 0-0 draw after extra time before suffering another penalty shootout defeat.
Goalkeepers: Maduka Okoye Francis Uzoho, Arthur Okonkwo
Defenders: Calvin Bassey, Zaidu Sanusi, Igoh Ogbu, Bruno Onyemaechi, Emmanuel Fernandez, Semi Ajayi, Bright Osayi-Samuel
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Abdullahi Bewene, Wilfred Ndidi, Philip Otele, Frank Onyeka, Tochukwu Nnadi, Raphael Onyedika, Samuel Chukwueze, Alhassan Yusuf
Forwards: Owen Oseni, Rafiu Durosinmi, Moses Simon, Terem Moffi, Paul Onuachu, Akor Adams,
Head-to-Head Record
Looking at their head-to-head statistics, Portugal have met the Super Eagles of Nigeria once in a friendly match at Estádio José Alvalade in November 2022.
And it was recorded that Manchester United Midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored two first-half goals for Fernando Santos’ side, Gonçalo Ramos and João Mário coming off the bench to net late goals in a 4-0 victory.
