Eric Chelle: Portugal Friendly Against Nigeria Doubles as DR Congo World Cup Preparation

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle believes Portugal’s decision to arrange a pre-tournament friendly against Nigeria is at least partly driven by a desire to prepare for their opening 2026 FIFA World Cup group-stage fixture against DR Congo on June 17.

The two sides meet in Leiria on Wednesday in only the second senior international between the nations. Their sole previous encounter came in 2022, when Portugal ran out comfortable 4-0 winners over the Super Eagles.

Portugal have been drawn in a World Cup group alongside DR Congo, Colombia, and Uzbekistan. The Congolese secured their place at the tournament after eliminating Nigeria on penalties in the African qualifying playoff final last November — a result that gives Chelle’s squad a direct point of reference for their opponents.

“It is not a lack of respect; we cannot compare Nigeria and DR Congo. I don’t think about which team is better. I think about style and philosophy. Maybe they want to play an African team because of the intensity of the game and the physicality,” Chelle said at his pre-match press conference.

The Franco-Malian coach expanded on that reasoning, noting that Nigeria’s recent competitive experience against DR Congo could make the Super Eagles a particularly useful benchmark for the Portuguese coaching staff. “This is a good opportunity for Portugal to play against us because we already played DR Congo in the World Cup qualifying playoffs and lost on penalties. So maybe they want to see how they play and understand some aspects of what they could face,” he added.

When asked about the heavy defeat Nigeria suffered in the sides’ previous meeting four years ago, Chelle was measured in his response, framing the fixture as part of a broader development process rather than an occasion for redemption. “Four years ago we lost 4-0, but that does not mean we are scared. The most important objective is to improve in every game. We must go into the match with the right mentality and continue to develop our philosophy,” he said.

Nigeria arrive at the fixture in a positive run of form, having gone six matches without defeat heading into Wednesday’s game. Portugal, meanwhile, are among the pre-tournament favourites at the World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes expected to feature in Leiria.

The friendly represents a significant pre-tournament examination for Chelle’s side. Nigeria did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup after their playoff final defeat to DR Congo, meaning Wednesday’s match is one of few remaining opportunities for the Super Eagles to measure themselves against elite international opposition ahead of the next qualifying cycle. For Portugal, the fixture serves a dual purpose: final preparation ahead of their World Cup opener and an indirect scouting exercise on an opponent they will face just days later.