Tonight’s Grade A international friendly between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Portugal’s Seleção das Quinas for Leiria, central Portuguese town, go be plenty fire.
For Roberto Martinez’ men, this clash with Nigeria go give dem clue of wetin to expect when dem face DR Congo for dia opening Group K match next week Wednesday.
Remember say na di same Congolese wey beat Nigeria for di African playoffs for Rabat, Morocco last November?
For Martinez wey don manage all di stars but no make hey with Belgium before crossing to Portugal, dis World Cup na another chance to make statement.
So e go come out against Eagles with im full arsenal even dough nothing dey at stake beyond prestige.
Losing to Nigeria no be option for am as im unbeaten squad dey aim to consolidate before di World Cup proper.
Eric Chelle on di other hand no ready to surrender im brilliant record with Nigeria since e take over Eagles’ dugout 15 months ago.
For dat period, Franco-Malian Chelle don oversee 24 matches, losing only once for regulation time – a pre-Africa Cup of Nations friendly for Cairo for December 2025 wey e execute with understrength squad.
Martinez, a wise old cock for di game, don take im team through four-match unbeaten streak during which dem defeat USA and Chile, and draw with Mexico.
Dia last defeat na two-goal reverse against Republic of Ireland seven months ago.
Wednesday encounter against three-time African champions Nigeria go be Portugal final preparatory game before dem take on Congolese.
Martinez don express confidence going into dis send-forth encounter, considering say e get all im aces with am including five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, goalkeeper Diogo Jota, defenders Nélson Semedo, Rúben Dias and Diogo Dalot, midfielders Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and João Neves, and forwards João Félix, Gonçalo Guedes and Rafael Leão.
Against Chile for Estádio Nacional for Lisbon on Saturday, Manchester United of England Bruno Fernandes score spectacular goal after supplying assist for Guedes to score opener.
Dere no don too many encounters between both countries for senior level, but for 17th November 2022, Portugal spank Super Eagles 4-0 for friendly for Lisbon Estádio José Alvalade.
Portugal U20 team also deny Nigeria di trophy for 1989 FIFA U20 World Cup for Saudi Arabia, with Flying Eagles suffering 2-0 reverse for final.
Chelle no go worry about all dis as e send im team out tonight for di 29,000-capacity Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa for Leiria – a city halfway between Lisbon and Porto.
Before kick-off, Nigeria go honour midfielder Alexander Iwobi as di Trojan collect im 100th senior cap – an inspiration and occasion for am to exert dominion for middle against Martinez World Cup-bound stars.
Even as e go miss star strikers Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, Chelle dey focus on im squad with confidence with di arrival of mercurial Samuel Chukwueze (wey miss di clash with Poland), di experience of Moses Simon, di forms of Paul Onuachu, Akor Adams and Terem Moffi, and di promising output of Philip Otele for di Unity Cup for London and di friendly against Poland for Warsaw last week.
Wing-back Abdullahi Bewene don get dream debut against White-and-Red for Warsaw, and fit start against das Quinas, for absence of Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Centre-back Igoh Ogbu depart team camp on Tuesday morning due to injury, but Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Scotland-based Emmanuel Fernandez all dey up for di big tie.
Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi both dey available for left wing-back role.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi go join Iwobi and any of Frank Onyeka, Tochukwu Nnadi, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Raphael Onyedika for middle.
And dere be also promising young KRC Genk midfielder Christian Akpan.
Portugal time – same time as for Nigeria.
