Ahead of today’s friendly game against the senior national team of Nigeria coach of Portugal Fernando Santos has warned his players about the threat of their opponent.

Portugal are in World Cup Group H with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea. They are playing the game in front of a sell out crowd as a means of senthforth for the team in front of their supporters.

Santos whose team will use the game as their final tune up game ahead of the start of the World Cup in Qatar. The coach is however not leaving any thing to chanced although he dismissed the notion that the game will be similar to what they will expect from their world cup rivals.

The coach said the Nigerian team who won’t be at the World Cup play a different style to that of Ghana even in their formation and also kind of players. He said the Nigerian team is very quick and talented hence warned his players to me wary.

“We even have more habits with the South American teams. In relation to the African continent, like Ghana, there is this matrix too. Nigeria has something to do with Ghana. They have very fast players, exploit with their speed“, he said at yesterday’s presser.

“They are very talented. I don’t know how Nigeria will play on the field. But they usually play in 4-4-2 and Ghana often in 4-2-2. Their coach Jose Peseiro also showed a lot interest in hosting this game in Portugal. It was a good choice.”

Genk of Belgium forward Paul Onuachu stole the show in the Super Eagles last training session ahead of today’s friendly game against Portugal, OwnGoalNigeria.com can exclusively reveal.

Onuachu is in a straight battle with the duo of Cyriel Dessers and Terem Moffi for a spot in attack and even though Moffi is currently favoured to start, the Genk forward is making it difficult for the coaches to shun him completely.

Coach Jose Peseiro likes to play with a two man attack and in the absence of Victor Osimhen, three forwards were put through the routine drills by the coach, who will make a decision on who will play later today.

In yesterday’s training, the lanky forward showed his ability when it comes to putting the ball in the back of the net by excelling in the drills for strikers. He got all his efforts on target with six ending in the back of the net.

Dessers and Moffi were also clinical with their efforts but none came close to the finishing prowess of Onuachu, who is staging a return to the team on the back of scoring 13 goals in 12 League games this season.

The senior national team of Nigeria rounded up their training yesterday ahead of today’s high profile friendly game against Portugal, who are using the game as their final tune up game ahead of the start of the World Cup in Qatar.

The team had two full training session but never at any time had all the invited players available no thanks to Calvin Bassey, who is presently carrying a knock and will undergo a late fitness test before a decision will be made on including him in the squad for the game.

Per what we gathered from the session, some players stood out and most shocking of them is Watford goalkeeper Maduka Okoye. He showed amazing reflexes in training and also in the test game played among themselves. He is seriously pushing to reclaim his number one spot from Francis Uzoho.

Simon Moses showed his usefulness with a committed display at both ends of the pitch. The speed at which he defends and also initiate attack left the coaches nodding in excitement during the test game. Ademola Lookman on the other flank was also exciting with his direct runs, close skills and finishing.

Paul Onuachu was however the star of the session as he replicated his form at Belgium side Genk with some smart finishing. He also brought another dimension to the set up with his lanky frame and also hold up play which he species with his occasional show of skills.

He is usually the busiest in training and once again he didn’t let the tag down. Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi covered lot of grounds without showing any sign of tiredness. His non stop running all through the session outlined his usefulness to the team particularly if Jose Peseiro sticks to his 4-4-2 system.

The training of the senior national team of Nigeria ahead of today’s international friendly game against Portugal had some very key points picked out by our eagle eyed editorial team, the points will be stated below.

1. Uzoho Is Back As Number 1:  From all indication Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus goalkeeper Francis Uzoho has reclaimed his spot as the first choice goalkeeper. This much we noticed during the training that despite Maduka Okoye’s sharpness. It’s Uzoho who is still going to start today.

2. Chukwueze Risk Getting Dropped: Aside from being the last player to report to camp for training ahead of the game. Samuel Chukwueze has lost his spot on the flanks to the duo of Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman. Jose Peseiro could consider dropping him from the squad for future games if his commitment doesn’t change.

3. Joe Aribo Gets New Role – From his last season at Scottish side Rangers, it became clear that having Aribo close to goal brings out the best in him. That same role is what he is thriving in at Southampton and for the first time in the colours of Nigeria, he will operate in the same capacity. Thanks to Peseiro’s 4-4-2 approach.

4. Super Eagles Won’t Miss Osimhen – If there is one area where the team has shown remarkable improvement is in the area of goal scoring despite the absence of main striker Victor Osimhen. The trio of Terem Moffi, Ademola Lookman and Paul Onuachu light up the training session with goals after goals.

5. Last Chance Salon For Emmanuel Dennis – His  inclusion in the team ahead of Taiwo Awoniyi raised eye brows but the coach still feels he need to be given ample game time to be properly assessed. That he will get against Portugal if all goes according to plan and a decision on his future with the team will be made afterwards.

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen won’t be a part of the players of the senior national team of Nigeria when they take on Portugal in an international friendly tomorrow in Lisbon.

Osimhen was reported to have withdrew from the game citing an injury picked up during his club’s game over the weekend, where he scored and lasted the entire duration of the 3-2 win over Udinese.

Peseiro said a scan from the medical team of Napoli was presented to the doctor of the senior national team of Nigeria and the report says Osimhen sufferer a back strain during the closing stages of the win over Udinese.

Per the scan, he will need to rest for around 10-15 days before returning back to the pitch. Peseiro said while he is unhappy over the player’s absence because he is one of the best players in the team, he is however more concerned with the players at his disposal for tomorrow’s game.

“I will like to play with Osimhen because he’s a fantastic player, but since I can’t play with him, the most important players are the ones who are here with us.”

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro included two new players in the list of players called up for tomorrow’s friendly game against Portugal.

Among them is Fenerbahce right wingback Bright Osayi-Samuel who was born in Nigeria but spent part of his growing up years in Spain before his family relocated to England.

He has been in England long enough to be eligible for the country, the same as Spain but he wasn’t capped by both nations at any level until his call up to the senior national team of Nigeria for the game against Portugal.

Poised to make his senior debut for Nigeria with first choice right back absent, he however faced a huge task in dislodging Tyronne Ebuehi who is back in the team for the first time since the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which took place in January.

“I’m Nigerian and I’m proud to be a Nigerian, so if the opportunity comes I’m ready, but my coach came to ask me if I want to play for the national team and I said I want to, I was also called by the Team Manager of the National team. I was born in Nigeria and moved to Spain briefly with my family then we moved to London.

” I want to give my best for the national team and show what I’m capable of and also make the team stronger”, he told the official television of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

When the senior national team of Nigeria takes on their Portuguese counterparts tomorrow in an international friendly, the host will be without their captain and global football icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

The game is meant to serve as a senthforth for the Portuguese team ahead of the start of the World Cup in Qatar, while Nigeria will use the game to fine tune preparations ahead of their competitive commitment next year.

Ahead of the game coach of the Portuguese team Fernando Santos revealed that Ronaldo won’t be a part of the team after missing today’s training due to a stomach bug. “He is in his room resting and recovering. He won’t practice and won’t be ready for tomorrow’s game either,” coach Santos said.

Benfica’s 19-year-old defender Antonio Silva could be in the starting team against Nigeria ahead of Manchester City’s Ruben Dias.

“He will play but I’m still deciding if it will be from the start,” Santos said.

“I have full confidence in the group. Not only Ronaldo but all the players are very focused.

“The players have given me absolute guarantee – not that I need it – of the total focus and ambition they have for this World Cup.”

Portugal are in World Cup Group H with Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea.

The senior national team of Nigeria yesterday had their first real training session ahead of tomorrow’s high profile friendly game against Portugal at the José Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon.

Yesterday’s session had all but one of the invited player in Samuel Chukwueze present hence they were made to face up against each other in a test game under the supervision of head coach of the team Jose Peseiro.

Peseiro had the players play against themselves in a test game except Calvin Bassey, who is presently injured and still remain a huge doubt for the game unless he comes through today’s training unscathed.

Bassey was subbed off injured during Ajax’s 3-3 draw against Emmen in the Dutch Eredivisie. His team blew a three goal lead following his substitution just before the start of the second half due to a knock. He isn’t fully fit yet but has to be in camp on the orders of the coach.

Below is how they lined up against each other in yesterday’s training per reports exclusively gathered by OwnGoalNigeria.com editorial team.

Team A

Francis Uzoho
Tyronne Ebuehi
Bruno Onyemachi
Kevin Akpoguma
William Troost Ekong
Joe Aribo
Wilfred Ndidi
Moses Simon
Ademola Lookman
Terem Moffi

Team B

Maduka Okoye
Bright Osayi-Samuel
Chidozie Awaziem
Frank Onyeka
Ebube Duru
Emmanuel Dennis
Cyriel Dessers
Kevin Akpoguma
Adebayo Adeleye
Oghenekaro Etebo

The Nigeria Football Federation says the new Board led by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will not discriminate against selection into any of Nigeria’s National Teams of Nigerian players born in any part of the world.

NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire, said on Wednesday: “This clarification becomes necessary in view of an incorrect report that has been given wings by sections of the media, insinuating that the NFF President spoke of an impending wall against foreign-born or foreign-based players as far as selection of players into the National Teams is concerned.

“The NFF President spoke about something different from the message that is being conveyed. There is no way an administration that has promised inclusiveness and pledged to stick by merit and quality will go the route of discrimination.”

Olajire assured that selectors of National Teams would be given the free hand to pick players of Nigeria origin from any jurisdiction in the universe as long as they qualify to represent Nigeria and are good enough to make the country proud by ensuring podium appearance for our teams at major competitions.

“The NFF President is unhappy with the slant given the story and insists that no form of discrimination or exclusivity will be tolerated under his tenure. The best will always be in the nest to represent in the best interest of our great nation.

“Primordial sentiments will have no place in the new administration. Anyone who is good enough and is a bonafide Nigerian will be given a level field to fight for the shirt, proudly sing the anthem and play under the flag of our nation.”

The coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro isn’t happy with Napoli star player Victor Osimhen over his decision not to honour the invitation sent to him for the friendly game against Portugal.

Nigeria will prosecute the game without the services of the Napoli man who withdrew out of the squad due to an injury picked up while on club duty last weekend in the Serie A. A game which he lasted the entire duration of the game and also scored.

While Peseiro isn’t contesting that he is injured, the coach wanted him to be in camp like Calvin Bassey who is also injured but is in camp as it is the last time the squad will be together this year.

He didn’t hide his unhappiness and in a chat with some of the backroom staff of the team while speaking on players who don’t regard games of the senior national team of Nigeria.

” He (Peseiro) didn’t mention Osimhen but we know he is referring to him when he said we don’t have a Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in our team, so I can do without any player. That is the kind of straightforward person. He worked with Jose Mourinho so no surprises”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com in an exclusive chat from the team’s base in Portugal.