Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Portugal’s Seleção das Quinas will trade tackles in the central Portugese town of Leiria on Wednesday in what promises to be a fierce encounter in all ramifications, despite its tag of a friendly.
Coaches Éric Chelle and Roberto Martinez have their different reasons for not wanting to lose, with the latter aiming to extend an unbeaten run that will instil a winning mentality in his squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup finals, and the former unwilling to surrender a brilliant record with Nigeria since taking over the Eagles’ dugout 15 months ago.
In that period, Franco-Malian Chelle has overseen 24 matches, losing only once in regulation time – a pre-Africa Cup of Nations friendly in Cairo in December 2025 that he executed with an understrength squad.
Martinez, a wise old cock in the game, has taken his team through a four-match unbeaten streak during which they defeated USA and Chile, and drew with Mexico. Their last defeat was a two-goal reverse against the Republic of Ireland seven months ago.
Wednesday’s encounter against three-time African champions Nigeria will be the Seleção das Quinas’ final preparatory game before they take on the Democratic Republic of Congo in their first match of Group K at the FIFA World Cup.
