International Football
Victor Moses Tips His Career Reviver, Conte to Win FIFA Award
BY BOLAJI OKUNOLA.
With the top three of the seven The Best FIFA Awards unveiled on Friday, Nigeria’s Super Eagles’ forward, Victor Moses is excited that his club coach at Chelsea, Antonio Conte made the final list of the original 12 announced last month. The award ceremony will hold in London on October 23.
The Italian Conte who led Chelsea to win the English Premier League last season and also to the final match of The FA Cup is contesting for the Men’s Coach Award with his fellow Italian, Massimiliano Allegry of Serie A side, Juventus and Frenchman, Zinedine Zidane who led Real Madrid to win the UEFA Champions League last May.
Conte had in his first season of handling a top flight English Premiership club led Chelsea to the title in impressive fashion, by setting a new Premier League record of 30 wins in a single season. He also emerged as the
2016/17 English Premier League Manager of the Season and showed tactical versatility as a player and that has translated into his career in management.
Last season, during Chelsea’s run to lifting the domestic league title; Conte switched the side’s formation to a 3-4-2-1, which proved a masterstroke. Along with his high tactical understanding of the game, Conte’s infectious energy and enthusiasm on the touchline affects every team he coaches. The Italian’s latest challenge is to get Chelsea competing on multiple fronts as they return to European competition.
Expectedly, Victor Moses’ allegiance to Conte will not be a surprise as the Italian is not just his coach, but he also helped the Nigerian to revive his career in club after previous coaches often sent him on loan spells to other clubs where he hardly got playing time.
The lack of playing time also affected his form in the Super Eagles. But all those are history now.
Sports Village Square monitored Moses as he spoke affectionately about his coach on Chelsea TV channel.
“I will be very happy seeing him (Conte) emerge as the winner. He has done a great job by reshaping the image of his club. For me, I rather go with Conte ahead others”, he remarked.
It appears both Conte and Moses have mutual respect for each other. Earlier in March this year, Conte spoke flowerily on Chelsea website about the Nigerian player.
He believed Moses was deserving of all the praise he received last season for the work he has put in to improve every aspect of his game. The Nigerian international excelled since adopting a wing-back role and was rewarded for his stellar performances in the season when he was handed a new contract by the club.
The Italian manager remarked he was surprised at how well Moses had performed and adapted to his new role at wing back.
“If you asked me before the change if I imagined him in this new position, I would say no, because we started to try to play with the 4-2-4 and I always saw him as a winger, very good one-on-one, but a bit poor defensively,” Conte told the Chelsea website.
Conte went to praise the Nigerians willingness to learn and develop as a player and the Blues boss later labelled him as a complete player, who has the ability to performance ‘offensively and defensively’.
“When I decided to change the system, I wanted to try him in this role, to work with him in a different situation, and he showed me great commitment to understand and to study the new role, above all in defensive situations. Now we have a complete player, offensively and defensively, ”he added.
Conte admitted that after seeing Moses in action he had no doubt and never considered placing the player on loan or selling him to make a profit.
“I realised, quickly that Victor could stay with us. I spoke with him during pre-season, when we stayed in America, and told him he will stay with us,’ Conte said.
“I’m happy to have this type of player. I knew him before, but to see him in person is very important to judge a player. He deserved to stay with us this season, but also now he deserves to play.
“Victor was very, very happy when I told him he would stay. He said to me ‘I am ready to stay here, to fight for the club; I need to have my chance to show that I deserve to play with Chelsea’. It happened and we are very happy for this because he’s showing he’s a good player.”
Incidentally, Jose Mourinho who was Chelsea’s manager at the time Moses was in one of his loan spells out of the club did not make the final cut of the 12 original nominees.
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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