By Boluwatife Oshadiya | June 11, 2026
Key Points
- Portugal defeated Nigeria 2-1 in an international friendly in Leiria
- Akor Adams scored Nigeria’s equaliser after Pedro Neto had given Portugal the lead
- Francisco Conceição netted a late winner to hand Portugal victory ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Main Story
Portugal defeated Nigeria 2-1 on Wednesday night in Leiria as Francisco Conceição’s second-half strike secured victory for Roberto Martinez’s side in their final preparatory match before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Pedro Neto opened the scoring for the hosts in the 23rd minute after Portugal dominated the early stages of the encounter at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa. However, the Super Eagles responded strongly through Akor Adams, who levelled the score seven minutes before halftime with a composed finish after beating his marker.
Nigeria matched Portugal for long stretches of the contest and looked dangerous on the counterattack, with Eric Chelle’s side creating several opportunities against a defence marshalled by Rúben Dias.
The hosts raised their intensity after the interval following the introduction of Bernardo Silva, João Cancelo, João Félix, Rúben Neves and Nuno Mendes. Portugal’s attacking pressure forced several impressive saves from Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who produced one of his best performances in national team colours.
The decisive moment arrived in the 75th minute when substitute Francisco Conceição cut inside from the right flank and unleashed a powerful left-footed strike into the far corner beyond Okoye.
Despite a late push from Nigeria, Portugal maintained control during the closing stages to secure victory and continue their winning momentum ahead of the World Cup.
“We faced a quality opponent and saw several encouraging signs from the team despite the result,” Eric Chelle said after the match.
What’s Being Said
“This was an important test for us before the World Cup, and the players responded well against a talented Nigerian side,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said after the game.
“We showed character and competed well against one of Europe’s strongest teams. There are positives we can build on going forward,” Nigeria manager Eric Chelle noted.
What’s Next
- Portugal will begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign later this month
- Nigeria will shift focus to preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualification programme
- Eric Chelle is expected to continue assessing players as he builds a more settled squad ahead of upcoming competitive fixtures
The Bottom Line: Nigeria left Leiria without a result, but the Super Eagles produced enough positive moments against a World Cup-bound Portugal side to give Eric Chelle useful insights ahead of the team’s next competitive assignments.
