Wilfred Ndidi Warns Portugal Ahead of Nigeria Friendly in Leiria on June 10

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has issued a direct statement of intent ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly against Portugal, insisting the squad is targeting nothing less than a victory when the two nations meet on Wednesday, June 10.

The match is set to take place at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, and Ndidi — who is expected to lead the side out despite being one of only two outfield players to complete the full 90 minutes in Nigeria’s previous fixture — made clear that the team’s ambitions will not be tempered by the stature of their opponents.

“We always try as much as possible to get a win in every game. With our philosophy, with our vision and most importantly, to try and give a good game, try to be at our best and try to see if we win the game,” Ndidi said.

The commanding midfielder’s remarks followed Nigeria’s 2-2 draw against Poland at the PGE Narodowy in Warsaw on Wednesday, June 3. The Super Eagles took an early lead through Terem Moffi before Paul Onuachu converted a penalty to extend their advantage, only to be denied a winning result by a Przemysław Wiśniewski equaliser in the 95th minute of stoppage time.

Despite the late setback, Ndidi maintained that Nigeria were the dominant side throughout the encounter and reflected positively on the team’s expansive style of play under head coach Eric Chelle. He noted that the same attacking philosophy would be carried into the Portugal clash.

Ndidi emphasised the framework Chelle has instilled in the squad, describing it as central to their approach heading into the Leiria fixture. Portugal, who have regularly featured Cristiano Ronaldo in recent international duty, represent a significant test for the Super Eagles, who are using the June international window to build cohesion ahead of upcoming competitive commitments.

Nigeria’s back-to-back June friendlies against European opposition reflect a broader effort to expose the squad to high-level competition outside of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying cycles and World Cup preparation. The Super Eagles, who reached the AFCON final in February 2024 before losing to hosts Ivory Coast, have been in a period of transition under Chelle, with results and performances monitored closely by supporters and football administrators alike.

The Portugal friendly on June 10 will provide further evidence of how far Nigeria have progressed under the current setup, with Ndidi’s leadership role on and off the pitch remaining central to the team’s identity.