Portugal coach impressed by Super Eagles depth ahead of friendly

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has praised the depth of Nigeria’s squad ahead of Wednesday’s international friendly, insisting the Super Eagles remain a dangerous side even without key attackers like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

The highly anticipated clash will see Nigeria face one of Europe’s strongest teams, but the Super Eagles will be without two of their biggest stars after head coach Eric Chelle opted to rest them following a demanding club season.

Despite their absence, Martinez believes Nigeria possess enough quality throughout the squad to provide a stern test for his side.

Martinez impressed by Chelle’s approach

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the former Belgium manager highlighted Nigeria’s tactical flexibility and recent performances under Chelle.

“I expect a Nigerian team that is very competitive. I enjoyed the last game against Poland, the last friendly game,” Martinez said.

“I love the idea of the coach. The different systems that they use fit different players in different positions.”

Martinez added that facing Nigeria would offer valuable lessons for Portugal as they continue preparations for future international assignments.

“There are aspects in terms of the forward players of Nigeria, I think they are helpful for us to be able to defend as a team,” he stated.

Iwobi and Bassey earn special praise

The Portuguese coach singled out Fulham duo Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey for praise, describing them as experienced players capable of influencing the contest.

“I can see that obviously players like Osimhen and Lookman are not here. They have other players who perform at high levels,” Martinez said.

“I expect a very competitive game, real quality players with a lot of experience like Bassey and Iwobi. Players that I know very well.”

The friendly comes at a positive time for Nigeria, who have shown encouraging form in recent outings.

The Super Eagles recorded wins over Zimbabwe and Jamaica, while also securing a draw away to Poland.

For Chelle, the match offers another opportunity to assess his squad against elite opposition as preparations continue for future competitive fixtures.