Nigeria vs Saudi Arabia: Preview, Betting Tips, Team News, Possible Lineups

Nigeria vs Saudi Arabia: Preview, Betting Tips, Team News, Possible Lineups

Raphael Abiola
updated at November 1, 2023 at 3:45 PM
  • Saudi Arabia versus Nigeria will take centre stage in Portugal on Friday
  • The Africans are without a win in their last three international friendlies
  • Saudi Arabia are on a poor run going into the game with the Super Eagles

Nigeria are set to face Saudi Arabia in an exciting international friendly clash at the Estadio Municipal de Portimao, Portugal, on Friday, October 13.

The West Africans are preparing for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe next month.

Saudi Arabia are also preparing for the same tournament but under a new manager, Roberto Mancini.

Nigeria vs Saudi Arabia
Nigeria are set to face Saudi Arabia in an international friendly game. Photo: Utomi Ekpei/Stu Forster.
Source: Getty Images

Nigeria vs Saudi Arabia preview

Sports Mole reported that both teams are entering the game with contrasting paths in recent form.

The Super Eagles are in search of their fourth consecutive win, while Mancini's men are hoping to avoid a seventh defeat in a row.

Nigeria finished the AFCON qualifying series with a 6-0 thrashing of Sao Tome and Principe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, to seal first place in Group A ahead of Guinea-Bissau.

Jose Peseiro will hope to continue this form against Saudi Arabia on Friday. However, his team has lost their last three friendly games, with the last loss coming against Portugal before the 2022 World Cup.

The Arabian Falcons' last game ended in a 1-0 defeat against South Korea at St. James' Park, which was their sixth consecutive loss.

The Middle Eastern nation's last win came against Yemen in the Gulf Cup of Nations fixture in January.

Saudi Arabia vs Nigeria: team news

For the upcoming game, Peseiro will be without some key members of the Nigerian team due to injury.

The Nottingham Forest duo of Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina both withdrew from the squad and were replaced by Sadiq Umar and Tyronne Ebuehi respectively.

In-form strikers, Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface are both available for the game, with Alex Iwobi also returning to the team after missing the last games due to injury.

Italian manager, Mancini has called up 31 players for the game, which comprises players mainly from the Saudi Pro League, according to Soccernet.

Saudi Arabian captain and top scorer, Salem Al-Dawsari is also available for the game.

Nigeria vs Saudi Arabia: possible lineups

Nigeria: Uzoho; Osayi-Samuel, Bassey, Torunarigha, Ebuehi; Ndidi, Iwobi, Onyeka, Chukwueze; Osimhen, Boniface.

Saudi Arabia: Al-Owais; Al-Shahrani, Al-Tambakti, Al-Boleahi, Al-Ghannam; Kanno, Al-Khaibari, N. Al-Dawsari; S. Al-Dawsari, Ghareeb, Al-Shehri.

Saudi Arabia vs Nigeria: betting tips

Saudi Arabia vs Nigeria - Nigeria to win (1.8)

Nigeria are in better form between the two teams going into the game and they favourite to win this particular tie.

Saudi Arabia vs Nigeria - both teams to score (1.9)

In the last five games for Saudi Arabia, four of them have ended with both teams finding the back of the net.

Saudi Arabia vs Nigeria - over 2.5 goals (2.03)

Nigeria is a scoring side with top strikers like Osimhen and Boniface, which means the match is expected to end with a lot of goals. Four out of Saudi Arabia's last five games have produced more than two goals.

Saudi Arabia vs Nigeria - Osimhen to score at any time (2.1)

Osimhen is going into this game in top form for his club, Napoli. He has five goals from Nigeria's last two games.

All odds courtesy of 1XBet.

Osimhen and Chukwueze act as bus conductors

Sports Brief previously reported on Osimhen and Chukwueze acting as bus conductors as they took a ride on one of the mini-cars at training while on international duty.

The respective AC Milan and Napoli stars are currently in Portugal with the Nigerian team preparing for international friendly games against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.

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Authors
Raphael Abiola photo
Raphael Abiola
Raphael Abiola is a Nigerian Sports Journalist with over five years of experience. He obtained a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, in 2015.
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