The Super Eagles have landed in Portugal to start the concluding stretch of their June international schedule, with camp moving from Warsaw after a 2-2 draw against Poland at the Stadion PGE Narodowy.
Nineteen players made the trip from Poland’s capital. Rafiu Durosinmi did not travel, as he was excused to handle private matters.
Since arriving, Nigeria’s setup has been strengthened by new arrivals. Alex Iwobi and Genk defender Christian Akpan have joined the squad in Lisbon, team media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed, while Samuel Chukwueze is expected to link up with the group on Tuesday.
Nigeria’s next match is scheduled for June 10 at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, where it will be Portugal’s last warm-up ahead of the World Cup. With that context, Chelle’s side can anticipate a rival looking to leave a strong impression before the tournament begins.
The fixture also gives Nigeria an opportunity to respond to a painful memory: the Super Eagles suffered a 4-0 loss to Portugal in a pre-2022 World Cup friendly. With several returning players now back in the group, Nigeria will be keen to show how much progress has been made since that defeat.
Reaction: Noble backs Okoye over Poland goal
- Former Super Eagles goalkeeper John Noble defended Maduka Okoye after criticism following the late goal Nigeria conceded in the 2-2 draw with Poland in Warsaw on Wednesday.
- Noble argued that the strike was among the hardest efforts for any goalkeeper to deal with, highlighting the difficulty of keeping track of the ball’s movement from distance.
- “I’ve watched the video of that particular goal over and over again,” Noble said. “When you are positioned in your post and a shot is taken from long range, those shots often beat goalkeepers because the ball swerves and suddenly changes direction just as it gets close to you.”
- The former Enyimba goalkeeper added that the fine margins are often invisible to spectators watching in stadiums or on television.
- “In goalkeeping, a tiny slip or a slight movement of the ball can change the entire situation. It is rarely as simple as people think from the outside.”
