Earlier this week we asked whether the Super Eagles had learned enough from the 4-0 humiliation of 2022 to produce a different result in Lisbon. Wednesday night gave us an answer. It was encouraging, albeit incomplete.
Nigeria lost 2-1 to Portugal in an international friendly that told a very different story from three years ago. There was no point where the game slipped away from Eric Chelle’s side and the scoreline began to flatter the hosts. For long stretches of the contest, the Super Eagles were organised, competitive and at times were a real threat.
That is impressive considering they went up against a Portugal side that included Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto and João Félix. And Nigeria did more than match them.
Portugal took the lead in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto latched onto a well-placed pass from Diogo Dalot and finished calmly past Maduka Okoye. It was a quality goal and Nigeria could have caved in. Instead they pushed back. Eight minutes before half time, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru split the Portuguese defence with a precise pass, allowing Akor Adams to race through and fire a low effort beyond the goalkeeper for the equaliser.
By half time, Nigeria were level against one of the world’s top ten sides, without Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, on Portuguese soil. A result the 2022 version of this team would not have managed.
The second half brought substitutions, that changed everything. In the 75th minute Francisco Conceicao picked up the ball and went on a mazy run, skipping past Nigerian defenders before driving a low shot into the bottom corner out of Okoye’s reach. It was brilliant It also showed the gap in individual quality that still separates where Nigeria are from where Portugal live.
Nigeria pushed forward in the endgame, with Alex Iwobi orchestrating from midfield and Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu introduced to stretch the Portuguese backline. Despite the late pressure, they could not find a breakthrough.
So where does that leave the Super Eagles project?
Chelle has his answer. The Nigerian Team are not the same team that was taken apart 4-0 in 2022. They’re better structured, tougher to break down, and can score against elite opposition. An unbeaten run of 23 games had to end eventually, and losing by a single goal to Portugal in Lisbon is impressive by any standard.
But the late goal problem persists. Against Poland it was two conceded. Against Portugal it was a 75th minute winner that Nigeria had no answer for. In competitive football, that pattern becomes the difference between advancing and going home.
By Ezeana Emmanuel
