Super Eagles coach, Jose Peseiro will face his biggest test since his appointment in May when his side play Portugal in their first ever senior international friendly on Thursday (today).
The three-time African champions are winless in their last 13 friendlies but will be looking to end their poor run against the European giants at Lisbon’s 50,000-capacity Estadio Jose Alvalade.
The match starts at 19:45 Nigerian time.
Nigeria’s last friendly win came in March 2019 as they saw off seven-time AFCON champions Egypt 1-0 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium thanks to a first-time strike from Genk striker Paul Onuachu.
The 62-year-old Portuguese tactician has led the Eagles in three friendlies and has failed to win any of those matches, losing to Mexico, Ecuador and Algeria.
Peseiro lost his first game as Eagles coach against CONCACAF champion Mexico 2-1 in an international friendly at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on May 28.
Santiago Giménez scored Mexico’s opener in the 12th minute, Cyriel Dessers equalized for Nigeria nine minutes into the second half, but a William Troost-Ekong own goal gave the North Americans victory.
In June, the Eagles lost 1-0 in the Portuguese’s second match of the century against Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, USA. Pervis Estupiñán’s early goal was enough for the South Americans to win.
The Eagles then lost 2-1 against Algeria in another international friendly played in Oran in September. Terem Moffi gave the Nigerians a ninth-minute lead, but Manchester City striker Riyad Mahrez equalized for Algeria with a penalty kick in the 41st minute and Youcef Atal scored in the 61st minute to give the Desert Foxes victory.
Looking to end the team’s misery in friendly matches, Peseiro charged his players to show courage, passion and grit to secure victory over Portugal in the prestigious friendly in Lisbon.
He said: “I wish from the bottom of my heart that it’s a FIFA World Cup group stage match, I’m telling you and that’s the level Nigeria should be playing at. Even if it’s not, our aim is to go out and win.
“It’s good that we’re working in big groups. I am in love with this because this is good for the team and will sharpen the team to achieve the goal of winning the next African Cup. We also have the opportunity to test several players.’
The match in Lisbon may be a friendly tie, but it is a scoring game for the tactician as they will be interested in the tactical and technical approach deployed by the Nigerians and whether Peseiro is ready to continue as national team coach.
Peseiro will not be able to count on several of his key players like Victor Osimhen, Sadiq Umar and Zaidu Sanusi due to injuries, the coach already has all his invited players in camp for the friendly against Portugal.
Peseiro also left out captain Ahmed Musa and Queens Park Rangers defender Leon Balogun from the squad.
As on Tuesday, the Eagles camp in Lisbon was full of life with all the players.
Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye and Adebayo Adeleye have been called up for the match; defenders William Ekong, Chidozie Awaziem, Kevin Akpoguma, Calvin Bassey, Tyronne Ebuehi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Ebube Duru; as well as midfielders Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi and Joseph Ayodele-Aribo.
There are also strikers Moises Simon, Cyriel Dessers, Terem Moffi, Paul Onuachu, Emmanuel Dennis, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze.
Although Osimhen is not Serie A’s top scorer, Ademola Lookman (six goals in Serie A), Paul Onachu (12 goals in Belgium) and Terem Moffi (10 goals in Ligue 1) will give the Portuguese a run for their money.
Portugal wrap up their preparations for the upcoming World Cup with a friendly after a disappointing UEFA Nations League campaign that saw them finish just one point behind winners Spain.
With three wins and a draw in their first five games, a 1-0 home loss to Luis Enrique’s men on September 27 saw the A Selecao lose top spot in Group A2 in their final group outing.
Although today’s match is a mere warm-up, Portugal will field their strong XI, with Danilo Pereira and Antonio Silva potentially paired in the center of defence.
Manager Fernando Santos has plenty of options in the center of the park, with the likes of Joao Palhinha, William Carvalho, Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and Bruno Fernandes pushing for starting roles.
Benfica striker Goncalo Ramos, who has scored nine goals in 11 Primeira Liga games this season, should lead the attack alongside Otavio and Rafael Leao, while Manchester United forward Criatiano Ronaldo could start from the bench.
Drawn in World Cup Group H alongside South American powerhouses Ghana, South Korea and Uruguay, Portugal are slight favorites to finish as winners and advance to the knockout stages in Qatar.
