Nigeria will face Portugal in international friendly

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Nigeria will face 2016 European champions Portugal in an international friendly scheduled for September, reports The PUNCH.

This was revealed by the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Muhammad Sanusi.

The three-time African champions were originally scheduled to face Guinea-Bissau in the double-header Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers during the FIFA international break.

But with the qualifiers postponed to March 2023 by the Confederation of African Football last month, the NFF are busy arranging a Grade A friendly for the Eagles.

According to Sanusi, discussions with the Portuguese FA for the friendly match between Nigeria and Portugal are well underway.

"We are working on organizing a Class A friendly match with Portugal before the next FIFA window," Sanusi told The PUNCH.

"Following the postponement of the AFCON, a friendly match is necessary for the Eagles.

“Arrangements are underway and we are close to finalizing the details. Once this is done, a statement will be issued by the Football Federation of Nigeria.”

It will be the first time that Nigeria and Portugal meet at senior level, although the two countries have met three times at the U-20 World Cup, with Portugal winning all three encounters (twice in 1989 and 2013).

Coincidentally, Cristiano Ronaldo and his team are in the same group as Ghana, who beat Nigeria for the World Cup ticket after playing out a 1-1 draw with Nigeria at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in 'Abuja in March.