International Football
WORLD CUP DRAW: NIGERIA AND POT 2 TEAMS
BY KUNLE SOLAJA, seven consecutive World Cup reporter.
One of Nigeria’s three opponents at the group stage of the World Cup will come from Pot 2 which comprises of Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Croatia.
Nigeria has had previous encounters with all except Croatia. The remotest encounter that could be linked with Croatia was Nigeria facing Yugoslavia in a friendly match in 1998. Croatia was a part of the former Yugoslavia.
Pot 2 is headed by Spain, a team Nigeria had met twice in competitive encounters. The first was the opening Group D match of France ’98 in Nantes which Nigeria won 3-2. The second was a 3-0 defeat of Nigeria at the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria and Peru had met once. Nigeria lost the friendly match played in Lima on May 23, 2012 by a lone goal. The match with Switzerland, another Pot 2 team ended 1-0 in favour of Nigeria. Thanks to the solitary goal scored by Taiye Taiwo in the November 20, 2007 match played in Zurich.
The late former Nigerian manager, Amodu Shuaibu made his debut with an encounter with England at the old Wembley Stadium on November 16, 1994 when Nigeria also unveiled its new Nike kit. England won the match 1-0, courtesy of David Platt’s goal.
Super Eagles’ Finidi George challenges England’s Dennis Wise from behind during the England versus Nigeria football match at Wembley Stadium.
The two teams waited till the World Cup of 2002 before meeting again. This time a star-studded England team was held to a goalless draw in Osaka, Japan in a match Vincent Enyeama had the first of eight World Cup matches.
Colombia, another Pot 2 team had met Nigeria four times. If the Olympic Games match of Moscow 1980 were to be counted, the number of matches increases to five.
The June 25, 1980 Olympics Games match is downplayed on account that FIFA does not count it as grade A, even though Nigeria, like most other non-European nations at the time fielded their Grade A side. Nigeria lost that last group match 0-1 to Colombia.
In the proper grade A encounters, Colombia beat Nigeria 1-0 in a April 17, 1994 friendly match, both played as part of preparations for the USA ’94 World Cup. They met again in a USA Gold Cup encounter the following year. Colombia again prevailed 1-0. In November 2008, Colombia again beat Nigeria, 1-0 in another friendly encounter.
The most recent encounter of both countries is a 2010 friendly match which ended, 1-1. Encounters with Mexico are also on the rise. Both have met five times, but Nigeria is yet to win. The best result had been the four drawn matches while Mexico won once – the USA Gold Cup encounter of 1995 which ended 2-1.
The most recent of the five encounters was the goalless draw was the March 2014 in the USA as part of preparation for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
Diego Forlán was handed a splendid 100th cap celebration when Uruguay beat Nigeria 2-1 in a FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil 2013. That is the only encounter ever between Nigeria and Uruguay.
Croatia has never met Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles put up a spirited performance but were edged 2-1 by Portugal in an international friendly at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The match served as Portugal’s final tune-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and offered the Nigerians a chance to test themselves against one of Europe’s leading sides led by veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal drew first blood in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto broke the deadlock, firing past Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after a lively opening period in which both teams created opportunities.
The Super Eagles responded positively and were rewarded eight minutes before halftime when striker Akor Adams found the equaliser. The goal capped an impressive Nigerian fightback and ensured the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Ronaldo, making a rare appearance against Nigeria, started the match and remained on the pitch until the 67th minute. The 41-year-old was given a standing ovation by the home crowd when he was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos.
Portugal made several changes after the interval as coach Roberto Martinez rotated his squad in preparation for the World Cup. Despite the substitutions, the hosts continued to press for a winner.
Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Francisco Conceição struck the decisive goal, restoring Portugal’s lead and ultimately securing victory for the European side.
Nigeria battled to find another equaliser in the closing stages but Portugal’s defence held firm to preserve the 2-1 result.
The defeat means Portugal have now won both meetings between the two countries. Their first encounter came in Lisbon in November 2022, when the Portuguese recorded a convincing 4-0 victory in a pre-World Cup friendly.
While the result will disappoint Nigerian supporters, the Super Eagles can take encouragement from their resilient display against one of the teams widely tipped to make a strong impact at the World Cup. Akor Adams’ goal and Nigeria’s competitive showing against a star-studded Portuguese side provided positive signs as the team continues its rebuilding process under the national team set-up.
For Portugal, the victory provides a confidence boost as they head to North America, where they hope their talented midfield and experienced squad can propel them to a successful World Cup campaign.
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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the starting line-up when the Selecao take on Nigeria in an international friendly match which kicks off in a few minutes tonight.
The 41-year-old forward, who remains a key figure in the Portuguese national team, has been named among the starters as Portugal continue preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.
Ronaldo’s inclusion is expected to add further excitement to the encounter, with Nigerian fans eager to see one of football’s greatest players in action against the Super Eagles.
The match offers Nigeria another opportunity to test themselves against top European opposition, while Portugal will look to sharpen their squad ahead of future international assignments.
Kick-off is scheduled for later tonight, with both teams expected to field strong line-ups in what promises to be an entertaining contest.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Portugal will meet for only the second time at the senior level when they clash in an international friendly in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The encounter comes under remarkably similar circumstances to their first meeting in November 2022, when Portugal defeated Nigeria 4-0 in Lisbon just days before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Once again, Portugal are using Nigeria as their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Four years ago, the Portuguese selected the Super Eagles to prepare for a group-stage clash against Ghana, the team that denied Nigeria a place at Qatar 2022.
History appears to be repeating itself. This time, Portugal are preparing for a World Cup opening fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo, another team that shattered Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions by eliminating the Super Eagles from the qualification race.
The match at the 29,000-capacity Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa offers Nigeria an opportunity to avenge the heavy defeat suffered four years ago and test themselves against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has assembled a star-studded squad featuring five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rafael Leão and João Félix.
The Portuguese head into the encounter unbeaten in their last four matches, having recorded victories over the United States and Chile while drawing with Mexico.
Nigeria, under coach Eric Chelle, have also enjoyed an impressive run. Since taking charge 15 months ago, the Franco-Malian tactician has overseen 24 matches and suffered only one defeat in regulation time.
With both teams carrying impressive recent records, Wednesday’s friendly promises to be far more competitive than the scoreline from their last meeting suggests.
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