Cristiano Ronaldo has said Portugal is ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This came after his team narrowly beat Nigeria’s Super Eagles 2-1 in their last warm-up game in Leiria on Wednesday, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
After the match, the Portugal captain shared a message on Instagram. He wrote, “The preparation is done. Eyes on the World Cup.”
The night was not perfect for the home team. Pedro Neto scored first for Portugal in the 23rd minute after Ronaldo missed a clear chance. Akor Adams equalized for Nigeria before halftime. He was assisted by Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. Francisco Conceicao then scored the winner for Portugal after the break, giving Roberto Martinez’s team a narrow but encouraging victory.
This was the second time Portugal faced Nigeria before a World Cup. They had previously beaten the Super Eagles 4-0 in a similar match in 2022.
Despite the loss, Nigeria showed a strong performance. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye made several crucial saves. Defenders Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey were solid and kept their composure throughout the game.
Akor Adams continued to build his reputation with a well-taken equalizer before he was substituted late in the match. In midfield, Tochukwu Nnadi displayed energy and maturity. Substitutes Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika helped stabilize the team after they came on. Alex Iwobi, who marked his 100th cap, had a quiet game, and Moses Simon struggled to make an impact before he was substituted.
For Nigeria, this friendly also marked coach Eric Chelle’s first loss in regulation time since he took over. This ended a remarkable 25-match unbeaten streak, which included 16 wins and nine draws.
Portugal will head into the World Cup in Group K, where they will play the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
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