Head coach of Portugal Roberto Martinez has praised the depth of the Nigerian squad ahead of Wednesday’s international friendly, insisting on Super Eagles remain a dangerous side even without key strikers such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
The much-anticipated clash will see Nigeria face one of Europe’s strongest teams, but the Super Eagles will be without two of their biggest stars after head coach Eric Chelle decided to rest them after a demanding club season.
Despite their absence, Martinez believes Nigeria possess enough quality throughout the squad to provide a tough test for his side.
Martinez impressed with Chelle’s approach
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the former Belgium coach highlighted Nigeria’s tactical flexibility and recent performances under Chelle.
“I expect a Nigerian team that is very competitive. I enjoyed the last game against Poland, the last friendly,” Martinez said.
“I like the idea of coaches. The different systems they use suit different players in different positions.”
Martinez added that the match against Nigeria would offer valuable lessons for Portugal as they continue their preparations for future international assignments.
“There are aspects in terms of the Nigerian forwards, I think that are helpful for us to be able to defend as a team,” he stated.
Iwobi and Bassey deserve special praise
The Portuguese coach singled out Fulham duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey for praise, describing them as experienced players who can make an impact on the competition.
“I see that obviously players like Osimhen and Lookman are not here. They have other players who are playing at a high level,” Martinez said.
“I expect a very competitive game, really quality players with a lot of experience like Bassey and Iwobi. Players I know very well.”
The friendly comes at a good time for Nigeria, who have shown encouraging form in recent outings.
The Super Eagles recorded victories over Zimbabwe and Jamaica, and they also drew away from Poland.
For Chelle, the match offers another opportunity to assess his team against elite opposition as preparations continue for future competitive encounters.
