Portugal’s PSG Champions League Winners Join Camp Ahead of Nigeria Super Eagles Friendly

Portugal’s preparations for their upcoming international friendly against Nigeria received a significant lift after the Paris Saint-Germain quartet of Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves, and Gonçalo Ramos reported to the national team camp, completing head coach Roberto Martínez’s full squad contingent.

The four PSG players had been granted extended leave following the club’s Champions League final victory over Arsenal, making them the last group to arrive at Portugal’s training base. According to Portuguese sports newspaper A Bola, Portugal’s technical staff conducted their final session on Friday without the four Parisian players, who were yet to travel.

Mendes, Vitinha, and Neves each started the Champions League final, while Ramos came on as a late stoppage-time substitute in the second half as PSG retained their European crown. Their arrival completes what is now a full-strength Portugal panel ahead of two scheduled friendlies this international window.

The quartet is expected to be rested for Portugal’s first warm-up fixture against Chile at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor, according to reports. They are, however, anticipated to be fully available for the Super Eagles clash next Wednesday, subject to their fitness remaining unaffected by travel and recovery demands following the final.

Portugal’s preparations received a further boost on Friday when former Chelsea forward João Félix returned to training, participating in the opening 15 minutes of the session that was open to media. Félix’s involvement adds further depth to Martínez’s attacking options ahead of what is a testing double-header.

The contrasting situation in the Nigeria camp has placed newly appointed head coach Éric Chelle under considerable pressure. Former African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen withdrew from the squad citing physical exhaustion following a demanding domestic season, as did Ademola Lookman, a previous holder of the same continental honour. Fullback Ola Aina was not included in the travelling party after picking up an injury in the closing stages of his club campaign.

Osimhen and Lookman’s absences are particularly significant given their status as Nigeria’s most potent attacking threats. Osimhen, who has been one of African football’s standout forwards in recent seasons, and Lookman, whose form for Atalanta earned him the 2023 African Footballer of the Year award, would have been central to Chelle’s gameplan against a European side of Portugal’s calibre.

Chelle, who was appointed Nigeria head coach earlier in 2026, is still in the process of assembling his backroom staff and establishing his tactical identity with the Super Eagles. The Portugal friendly, despite falling during a period of squad disruption, represents an early opportunity to assess the squad’s depth and shape the side ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Portugal, ranked among Europe’s top international sides and led by Martínez since 2022, enter the fixture with a fully assembled group and momentum from their club representatives’ European success. Nigeria, meanwhile, will be required to rely on players further down the selection pecking order as Chelle navigates an interrupted preparation period.