Eric Chelle Vows to Beat Portugal and Poland on Home Soil as Super Eagles Begin Summer Series Without Osimhen and Lookman

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has set a combative tone ahead of Nigeria’s Summer Series fixtures against Poland and Portugal, vowing that his side will travel to Europe with the intention of winning — not merely participating.

Chelle’s comments followed Nigeria’s Unity Cup triumph over Jamaica in London, a result that provided a confidence boost ahead of two significantly more demanding tests against World Cup-qualified opposition. The Franco-Malian coach acknowledged the calibre of the upcoming opponents, describing Poland as “a good team” and reserving particular praise for Portugal, who he labelled “maybe the best team in the world.” Portugal’s squad includes Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and back-to-back European champions Vitinha and Joao Neves.

“No, we go definitely to make a fight, to make a war,” Chelle said. “If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. But if we lose, they have to work on us. They have to beat us, beat us to win these two games.”

The Super Eagles coach went further, making clear that a competitive performance on foreign soil carries personal significance following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “I want to go in their country, in their own country to beat them,” he added. “Because I’m sad I don’t go to the World Cup, maybe it will be something very good for me.”

Nigeria’s preparations for the two friendlies have been complicated by the unavailability of several high-profile players. Victor Osimhen, who has been linked with a summer move to Barcelona according to reports, will miss both fixtures. Ademola Lookman is also absent, as is Femi Azeez, who played a prominent role in Nigeria’s Unity Cup victory. The absences mean Chelle will need to rely on a rotated squad for both matches.

The fixtures represent a significant opportunity for the Super Eagles coach to assess depth within his squad and identify players capable of performing at the highest level of international competition. Poland, who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, are a structured side built around striker Robert Lewandowski, while Portugal arrive as one of Europe’s most decorated nations and enter the summer having retained the UEFA Nations League title.

Nigeria’s failure to reach the 2026 World Cup — which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — remains a significant point of reflection for the programme. Chelle, who took charge of the Super Eagles in late 2024, has consistently emphasised a more aggressive tactical identity since his appointment, and the Summer Series fixtures against Poland and Portugal will serve as a measure of how far that philosophy has been embedded.

The original report from Pulse Sports Nigeria confirmed that the Super Eagles’ official account also announced the continuation of the summer campaign with matches against both nations, with kick-off times and venues communicated separately to supporters.