Portugal 4 Nigeria 0: Eagles friendly woes continue
The Super Eagles failed to break their 13 friendlies without a win as Jose Peseiro's side lost 4-0 to Euro 2016 champions Portugal at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Thursday night.
The European giants scored the first goal in the 9th minute through Bruno Fernandes and the midfielder added the second from the penalty spot in the 35th minute.
Goncalo Ramos, who came on as a substitute for André Silvain in the 66th minute, made it three for the home side eight minutes before regulation time. Joao Mario got the back of the net to make it four as Fernando Santos' side traveled to Qatar on Friday.
Nigeria's last friendly victory was in March 2019, when they beat seven-time AFCON champions Egypt 1-0 at Stephen Keshi Stadium thanks to an early goal from Genk striker Paul Onuachu.
The defeat also means the 62-year-old Portuguese tactician has failed to secure victory in his four friendlies for Nigeria.
Peseiro lost their opener to Mexico 2-1 in an international friendly on May 28. In June, the Eagles lost 1-0 in their second match against Ecuador and a 2-1 loss to Algeria's Desert Foxes in another international friendly in Oran in September.
On Thursday, Peseiro adopted a 4-4-2 formation with Calvin Bassey playing left-back, Bright Osayi-Samuel in the right-back position, and Kevin Akpoguma and William Troost-Ekong paired in central defence.
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi and Everton's Alex Iwobi were deployed in midfield with Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman playing on the flanks. Surprisingly, Joe Aribo led the attack along with Terem Moffi.
The Portuguese dominated the game in the first minutes of the first half and were about to open the scoring.
However, they opened the scoring in the 9th minute thanks to Bruno Fernandes on a superb assist from Diogo Dalot.
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's absence, the Portuguese midfielder led by Bernardo Silva, William Carvalho, , Otavio and Bruno Fernandes controlled play for most of the first half.
The European champions were awarded a 35th-minute penalty and Manchester United's midfield maestro sent Nigeria goalkeeper Uzoho the other way to double the Selecao's lead .
The Eagles were close to scoring but Aribo's shot was deflected by Dias for a corner.
At the start of the second half, Peseiro brought on the duo Samuel Chukwueze and Frank Onyeka for Ademola Lookman and Wilfred Ndidi respectively and the team came alive with much improvement.< /p>
Chukwueze was close to put Nigeria on the opening goal in the 70th minute after making a brilliant run from the flanks but couldn't beat the goalkeeper.
After an improved second-half performance, Nigeria had the opportunity to cut the deficit after Osayi-Samuel was brought down in the box for a penalty but Emmanuel Dennis failed to score from the spot when his shot was saved by Rui Patricio.
The Eagles had to pay for their missed chance and they conceded two goals in the space of two minutes as substitutes Ramos and Ramio scored to add to Nigeria's friendly misery.
The result means Nigeria have yet to win any of their last 14 friendlies.
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The Super Eagles failed to break their 13 friendlies without a win as Jose Peseiro's side lost 4-0 to Euro 2016 champions Portugal at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Thursday night.
The European giants scored the first goal in the 9th minute through Bruno Fernandes and the midfielder added the second from the penalty spot in the 35th minute.
Goncalo Ramos, who came on as a substitute for André Silvain in the 66th minute, made it three for the home side eight minutes before regulation time. Joao Mario got the back of the net to make it four as Fernando Santos' side traveled to Qatar on Friday.
Nigeria's last friendly victory was in March 2019, when they beat seven-time AFCON champions Egypt 1-0 at Stephen Keshi Stadium thanks to an early goal from Genk striker Paul Onuachu.
The defeat also means the 62-year-old Portuguese tactician has failed to secure victory in his four friendlies for Nigeria.
Peseiro lost their opener to Mexico 2-1 in an international friendly on May 28. In June, the Eagles lost 1-0 in their second match against Ecuador and a 2-1 loss to Algeria's Desert Foxes in another international friendly in Oran in September.
On Thursday, Peseiro adopted a 4-4-2 formation with Calvin Bassey playing left-back, Bright Osayi-Samuel in the right-back position, and Kevin Akpoguma and William Troost-Ekong paired in central defence.
Leicester City's Wilfred Ndidi and Everton's Alex Iwobi were deployed in midfield with Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman playing on the flanks. Surprisingly, Joe Aribo led the attack along with Terem Moffi.
The Portuguese dominated the game in the first minutes of the first half and were about to open the scoring.
However, they opened the scoring in the 9th minute thanks to Bruno Fernandes on a superb assist from Diogo Dalot.
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's absence, the Portuguese midfielder led by Bernardo Silva, William Carvalho, , Otavio and Bruno Fernandes controlled play for most of the first half.
The European champions were awarded a 35th-minute penalty and Manchester United's midfield maestro sent Nigeria goalkeeper Uzoho the other way to double the Selecao's lead .
The Eagles were close to scoring but Aribo's shot was deflected by Dias for a corner.
At the start of the second half, Peseiro brought on the duo Samuel Chukwueze and Frank Onyeka for Ademola Lookman and Wilfred Ndidi respectively and the team came alive with much improvement.< /p>
Chukwueze was close to put Nigeria on the opening goal in the 70th minute after making a brilliant run from the flanks but couldn't beat the goalkeeper.
After an improved second-half performance, Nigeria had the opportunity to cut the deficit after Osayi-Samuel was brought down in the box for a penalty but Emmanuel Dennis failed to score from the spot when his shot was saved by Rui Patricio.
The Eagles had to pay for their missed chance and they conceded two goals in the space of two minutes as substitutes Ramos and Ramio scored to add to Nigeria's friendly misery.
The result means Nigeria have yet to win any of their last 14 friendlies.
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