Super Eagles forward Terem Moffi believes Nigeria will face a much sterner challenge when they take on Portugal in an international friendly next week.
The Nice striker has enjoyed a productive international window, finding the net in Nigeria’s 3-0 victory over Jamaica in the Unity Cup final before adding another goal in the Super Eagles’ entertaining 2-2 draw against Poland on Wednesday.
Nigeria looked in control for large spells against the Poles and created enough chances to secure victory. However, defensive lapses at crucial moments proved costly.
The hosts pulled level before halftime through Nicola Zalewski after the Super Eagles failed to deal with a corner kick. Paul Onuachu restored Nigeria’s advantage from the penalty spot after a handball inside the box, but Poland snatched a late equaliser when Przemyslaw Wisniewski fired home a stunning long-range effort deep into stoppage time.
Despite the disappointment of conceding late, the match provided another valuable opportunity for head coach Eric Chelle to assess his squad and experiment with tactical options.
Attention now shifts to Portugal, one of Europe’s strongest sides and a team preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For Nigeria, the fixture presents another chance to test themselves against elite opposition and continue building towards the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
While the Super Eagles will not feature at the 2026 World Cup, these high-profile friendlies are expected to play a key role in shaping the future of the team, with several emerging players pushing for regular places in the squad.
A positive result against Portugal would further boost confidence within the camp, but the encounter is expected to provide a significant examination of Nigeria’s progress under Chelle.
