The Super Eagles of Nigeria produced a spirited performance but suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to World Cup-bound Portugal in an international friendly played in Leiria on Wednesday night.
Despite missing key stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, the three-time African champions matched the European giants for long periods and earned praise for their resilience and attacking intent.
Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was one of Nigeria’s standout performers, making five crucial saves to keep the Super Eagles in contention throughout the encounter.
Forward Akor Adams scored Nigeria’s only goal, but it was not enough to prevent Portugal from claiming victory and ending the Super Eagles’ 12-match unbeaten run.
The match also marked a major milestone for midfielder Alex Iwobi, who made his 100th appearance for the national team, becoming only the fourth Nigerian player to reach the century mark.
The Fulham star was honoured by the Nigeria Football Federation before kick-off in recognition of his decade-long service to the country.
Although defeated, Nigeria’s impressive display against one of Europe’s strongest sides has boosted confidence ahead of future international assignments, with many observers hailing the team’s fighting spirit and quality against the World Cup-bound Portuguese side.
