Pre-World Cup 2026 friendlies: Portugal-Nigeria, likely lineups

The last pre-World Cup commitment for Portugal led on the bench by Roberto Martinez, one of the most ambitious national teams among the forty-eight that have obtained a pass for the rainbow review. Opponent of the Lusitanians, in the friendly scheduled to take place in Leiria at 9:45 p.m. Italian time (8:45 p.m. local time) is Nigeria, which, on the other hand, is one of the big outcasts.

Portugal, fifth in the FIFA world rankings, is in its ninth overall participation, the seventh consecutive. Although in the last twenty-five it has been able to count on a battery of champions of the highest level, first and foremost Cristiano Ronaldo, its best result remains third place in the 1966 edition, in which the great Eusebio stopped only in front of future winner England, settling for success in the ‘finalina’ against the USSR. In 2022, the Seleção das Quinas reached the quarterfinals, defeated by surprising Morocco.

In contrast, Nigeria is currently ranked 26th in the world rankings and is the second best national team (after Italy) at the ranking level to have failed to qualify. Second in Qualifying Group C behind South Africa, the Super Eagles stopped in the interzone playoffs, beaten on penalties by the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their last participation in the World Cup remains the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where elimination came after the three group stage matches.

Probable lineups

PORTOGALLO (4-2-3-1): D. Costa; Dalot, Dias, Inácio, Cancelo; R. Neves, Vitinha; Guedes, Fernandes, Neto; Ramos. Ct: Martinez.

NIGERIA (4-4-2): Okoye; Bewene, Ogbu, Fernandez, Onyemaechi; Simon, Onyeka, Ndidi, Nnadi; Adams, Moffi. Ct: Chelle.