Victor Osimhen is the big absentee from Portugal x Nigeria this Wednesday (10), at the Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Stadium, in Leiria. The Nigerian top scorer, the Super Eagles’ main offensive reference, was released from Data FIFA to manage his club future and preserve his physique after an intense season. Even outside the game, the 27-year-old center forward remains a central theme in Nigeria’s preparation for future competitions.
The friendly match, scheduled for 4:45 pm (Brasília time), serves as Portugal’s last test before the 2026 World Cup. For Nigeria, which did not qualify for the World Cup, the match against one of the favorites for the title represents an opportunity to measure strength, but the absence of Osimhen — along with Ademola Lookman — weakens the firepower in attack.
Roberto Martínez should take advantage of the game to rotate the Portuguese squad, with stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and those recently joined from PSG. On the Nigerian side, coach Éric Chelle needs to reinvent the attack without his main scorer, who has experience in major European leagues and in the national team.
Portugal’s probable lineup
Diogo Costa; João Cancelo (or Diogo Dalot), Rúben Dias, Gonçalo Inácio, Nuno Mendes; Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves; Bernardo Silva, Pedro Neto (or Gonçalo Guedes), Gonçalo Ramos (or Cristiano Ronaldo). Coach: Roberto Martínez.
Nigeria’s probable lineup (without Osimhen)
Maduka Okoye; Abdullahi Shehu, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi; Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi, Alex Iwobi; Moses Simon, Akor Adams (or Terem Moffi), Samuel Chukwueze. Coach: Éric Chelle.
Where to watch live
The Portugal x Nigeria friendly will be broadcast live onESPN, Disney+ e SportTVin Brazil. In Portugal, RTP1 and RTP Play show the match. ge.globo follows in real time.
Portugal arrives undefeated in a good sequence of friendlies and is a clear favorite. The recent history shows a 4-0 victory over Nigeria in 2022. Without Osimhen, the Super Eagles must rely on defensive compactness and quick counterattacks with speed on the wing.
Guesses and tactical context
Portugal must dominate possession and explore spaces. Osimhen’s absence forces Nigeria to play a more collective and defensive game, with Ndidi and Iwobi trying to make up for the lack of reference in attack. Chelle seeks to test alternatives for the future, while Martínez fine-tunes the team for the World Cup.
Recent results (last 5 games)
Portugal:positive sequence of wins and draws, showing strength even in rotations.Nigeria:mixed results in preparatory engagements, with good balance in midfield but offensive dependence on Osimhen.
Leiria should receive a good crowd at the stadium with capacity for around 24 thousand fans. The weather forecast indicates ideal conditions, with temperatures between 24°C and 26°C.