Super Eagles Arrive Portugal for Friendly Match; Samuel Chukwueze Joins Camp

The Super Eagles have arrived in Leira, Portugal, ahead of their June 10 international friendly match against the Portuguese national team, with 19 players travelling directly from Poland after Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with the Polish side.

The team’s arrival in Portugal on June 5 marks the final phase of preparations for what promises to be a stern test against one of Europe’s top footballing nations. The Super Eagles flew into Leira after a productive European tour that included the Poland fixture.

Goals from Terem Moffi and Paul Onuachu secured a creditable draw against Poland before the squad turned their attention to Portugal. The match served as valuable preparation for Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, where the Super Eagles have been drawn in Group L.

Chukwueze Joins Camp After Mother’s Burial

AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze joined the Super Eagles camp in Portugal on June 5, linking up with the squad after missing the Poland game due to his mother’s burial. Chukwueze had been excused from the Poland fixture to attend to the funeral arrangements and has now reported for duty ahead of the Portugal clash.

The winger’s return is a significant boost for the coaching staff, who will be keen to have their first-choice attacking options available against a Portugal side expected to field some of Europe’s finest talents. Chukwueze’s pace and dribbling ability could be key weapons for Nigeria in the friendly encounter.

Also joining the camp in Portugal were Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi and rising star Christian Akpan, both of whom missed the Poland match for different reasons. Their presence adds depth to the squad as the technical crew finalises preparations for the Portugal game.

However, the Super Eagles will be without forward Rafiu Durosinmi, who was excused from the trip for personal reasons. The Viktoria Plzen striker had been part of the initial squad list but was granted permission to miss the tour.

Building for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

The Portugal friendly is part of a broader preparation strategy for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series. Nigeria’s Group L campaign will see them face tough opposition as they seek to secure a place at the tournament.

Head coach Eric Chelle is using the international window to assess his squad depth and test tactical approaches against high-quality opposition. The draw with Poland and the upcoming Portugal match provide the coaching staff with valuable data points ahead of competitive fixtures.

“These friendlies are important for our preparation,” a team source told CompleteSports. “We’re facing top-quality opposition that will test us in different ways, and that’s exactly what we need as we build toward AFCON qualifiers.”

Kick-off for the Portugal-Nigeria friendly is scheduled for June 10 at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leira.

Sources: Pulse Sports Nigeria, Leadership NG, Daily Sports, Premium Times