International Football
Nigeria’s Flamingos rollicking on Goa’s hybrid pitch 
The Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa, in India where Nigeria’s Flamingos have been overcoming opponents has a hybrid pitch which was installed in just 10 days. Till date, it has hosted 14 matches.
Nigeria’s semi-final clash later this Wednesday, October 26, 2022 will be the 15th match on the pitch. The semi-finals are proposed as double header, hence immediately after Nigeria’s encounter with Colombia, Spain and Germany will slug it out in the second match of the day. The two finalists will play for the trophy on Sunday in Navi Mumbai.
The pitch at the stadium underwent a major makeover ahead of the tournament, and will be in focus for one last time.
In a major decision taken by FIFA in the build-up to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022, Goa’s’ Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium became the first Indian football stadium to have a hybrid pitch.
Explaining what exactly a hybrid pitch means, FIFA Senior Pitch Management Manager Alan Ferguson said, “In the context of an international football pitch, a hybrid pitch refers to where a synthetic or other medium is added to a natural sand-soil profile to boost the stability. Under the hybrid umbrella, there are 10-12 different concepts which are internationally available, the top among them is pitch-stitching, which was implemeted at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.”
Hybrid pitches have existed for close to three decades and become a norm in European football. Outside of Europe, though, they are still a fairly novel concept.
Things are moving fast however, and Ferguson has spearheaded similar work in Japan, Costa Rica, and South America in recent years. In India, when FIFA decided to develop a hybrid pitch for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022, Goa, the venue that had to host 16 out of the 32 matches became the obvious choice.
“Sixteen matches in such a short time would result in a lot of pitch wear and tear, no matter the age group” said Ferguson. “Added to that, the tournament being held towards the end of monsoons meant that we had to do something to ensure the pitch remained in top condition throughout the tournament.” In comparison to a natural pitch, a hybrid pitch is at least three times more stable.
As a result, not only can more football be played on these pitches, but players can play more freely with less fear of injuries. According to Ferguson, the stability of Goa’s hybrid pitch is visible to even an untrained eye. He said, “You don’t have to be a pitch expert to see the benefits. You look out at the pitch in Goa and you will see no damage, which is not the case in the other two venues despite them hosting fewer fixtures.”
Ankush Arora, one of the Project Directors of the Local Organizing Committee of the tournament, corroborated Ferguson’s assessment. He said, “With 16 matches scheduled here, it was important that we had a hybrid pitch to ensure that we can provide players the best pitches and conditions to play on.
Hence this decision was crucial. So far, 14 matches have been conducted with no wear & tear on the pitch which vindicates the decision taken”
The hybrid pitch was installed in just 10 days from 27 September to 7 October by SISGrass with a five-member team putting in 12-hour shifts. Ferguson’s colleague Kris Puzio has worked closely with the local team in Goa and been responsible for teaching local pitch authorities how to look after, and get the best out of the pitch.
Emphasizing that FIFA’s involvement doesn’t stop with the end of the tournament, Oliver Vogt, FIFA Project Lead for the tournament, said, “We will also care for the pitch, even after the tournament has concluded. Alan and his team are going to be there for advice and to guide the local team working on the pitch.
To deliver fantastic pitches in India was one of our main objectives and I think we have achieved that since the tournament hasn’t been negatively impacted, despite frequent rains.”
Vogt also praised the efforts put in by the team to install the pitch in a very short space of time and hoped that their passion serves as an inspiration to those who will take care of the pitch after the tournament.
“They have seen the work being done on the pitch and had the chance to participate and learn from Alan and his team. They now have all the tools in their hands. So, when we come here in the future, we hope to see the quality of the pitch intact.”
The hybrid pitch of Goa was also picked as one of the biggest legacies of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2022™ by Vogt. “Once the tournament is over, I hope that the pitch can result in Goa becoming a new hub for women’s football in the country” he added.
“We built the hybrid pitch for a women’s tournament because we care about women’s football. Ideally, we would like to see the pitch being used by the federation for women’s international matches in future.”
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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