Portugal will conclude their preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they take on Nigeria in an international friendly on Wednesday night, just days after facing Chile at Estadio Nacional.
Roberto Martinez’s side are building momentum ahead of their tournament opener against DR Congo on June 17 and are widely regarded as one of the strongest contenders for the global title thanks to the immense quality within their squad.
Selecao das Quinas head into the contest following a 2-1 victory over Chile, where Goncalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes found the net in an encouraging display. Portugal have now lost just once in their last 12 matches and will be aiming to head into the World Cup with maximum confidence.
Cristiano Ronaldo remains the headline figure for the Portuguese side and could be preparing for the final World Cup appearance of his legendary career as he chases the one major trophy missing from his collection. Portugal have never won the World Cup, with their best finish coming in 1966 when they ended third.
Nigeria, however, arrive in Lisbon disappointed after failing to qualify for the World Cup following a heartbreaking playoff defeat to DR Congo on penalties. Despite missing out on the tournament, the Super Eagles remain in excellent form and recently retained the Unity Cup in London after victories over Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
Eric Chelle’s side are unbeaten in their last six matches and held Poland to a 2-2 draw in their most recent outing.
The Super Eagles will once again be without several major stars including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, while centre-back Igoh Ogbu has also been ruled out through injury. Portugal defeated Nigeria 4-0 in their only previous meeting back in 2022, but the African giants are expected to provide a much tougher challenge this time around.
Team News
Portugal could welcome back several Paris Saint-Germain stars including Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Goncalo Ramos after their Champions League involvement. Cristiano Ronaldo may start on the bench, while Diogo Costa is expected to return in goal.
Nigeria remain without Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. It was also revealed via their X account that Igoh Ogbu has withdrawn through injury. Terem Moffi and Akor Adams are expected to lead the attack once again.
Possible Lineups
Portugal possible starting lineup:
D Costa; Dalot, Dias, Inacio, Mendes; Vitinha, Fernandes, J Neves; Bernardo, Guedes, Neto
Nigeria possible starting lineup:
Okoye; Bewene, Ogbu, Fernandez, Onyemaechi; Simon, Onyeka, Ndidi, Nnadi; Adams, Moffi
How to watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTVStream App |
| Kick-off Time | 20:45 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Portugal 3-1 Nigeria
Portugal possess superior squad depth and attacking quality, but Nigeria’s pace and physicality could create problems in transition. Martinez’s side should still have enough control and creativity to edge a competitive encounter.
