The Super Eagles have also suffered just one defeat in regulation time in 24 matches since Chelle took charge of the team in January 2025.
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has described Wednesday’s international friendly against Portugal as a valuable test for the team.
Éric Chelle’s men head into the encounter in impressive form, having recorded four wins and two draws in their last six outings.
Super Eagles Ready For Portugal Showdown
Despite acknowledging the quality of their opponents, Ndidi believes Nigeria is fully prepared for the challenge.
“It will be a very good test for us, we faced the first test against Poland, and Portugal is a great team with great players as well,” Ndidi said during his interaction with the media on Tuesday.
The Leicester City midfielder stated that matches against top-ranked nations offer the Super Eagles an opportunity to measure their progress and improve ahead of future competitive fixtures.
Nigeria will be looking to extend their impressive unbeaten run under Chelle when they take on a Portuguese side packed with quality and experience. The encounter is expected to provide a stern examination of the team’s tactical discipline, defensive organisation, and attacking efficiency.
For Chelle, the friendly represents another chance to assess his squad against elite opposition as preparations continue for the upcoming international assignments, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the push to rebuild momentum following the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles have shown significant improvement under the Malian tactician, combining defensive solidity with a more structured attacking approach. Their recent performances have restored confidence among supporters, with several players stepping up to play key roles in the team’s resurgence.
A positive result against Portugal would further strengthen belief in Chelle’s project and provide another statement of intent from a Nigerian side eager to re-establish itself among the world’s leading football nations.
The highly anticipated clash will take place in Leiria, with both teams expected to use the fixture to fine-tune their preparations ahead of crucial assignments later in the year.
