PORTOGALLO – NIGERIA | Thursday 7:45pm
Nigeria has not yet landed in Qatar, Portugal. CR7 and his team-mates, who will make their World Cup debut next Thursday against Ghana, preferred to receive the embrace of their people first, playing their only pre-World Cup friendly in Lisbon, in the Sporting stadium. These days, the attention has been monopolised by the vitriolic words of the Manchester United striker, released to the English tabloid Sun. It was an interview in which the former Juventus and Real Madrid centre-forward shot his mouth off about his current club. Tensions that could inevitably have repercussions also in the national team’s dressing room: in this regard, the video of the glacial greeting with his Red Devils teammate Bruno Fernandes, or the discussion in training with Joao Cancelo, has gone around the world. In short, a real Ronaldo case has broken out on the eve of the eagerly awaited World Cup, probably the last one for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
In Qatar he will obviously be the spearhead of a national team which certainly does not lack talent, but which in recent years has disappointed in the most important events. In the Nations League, for example, they were blown away by Spain, losing the chance to take part in the Final Four. Head coach Fernando Santos is trying to turn over a new leaf and has his sights set on the top of Group H, where the most formidable rival is Uruguay. Portugal will therefore have a rehearsal against a Nigeria without Osimhen and still unable to digest the mockery of the play-off against Ghana. The most goals scored away from home will be decisive and no World Cup for the Super Eagles.
UPDATE 09:00: Cristiano Ronaldo will not be in the match due to a stomach ailment
Nigerian Troost-Ekong’s exultation
The Prediction
Portugal will do all they can to arrive in Qatar in high spirits after the CR7 controversy that could create some problems. A victory is likely in the friendly with Nigeria. The total goals should be at least three.
Portugal-Nigeria’s likely line-up
- PORTOGALLO (4-3-3): José Sa; Dalot, Antonio Silva, Danilo Pereira, Guerreiro; Palhinha, Ruben Neves, Vitinha; Leao, Otavio, Gonçalo Ramos.
- NIGERIA (4-3-3): Uzoho; Awaziem, Troost-Ekong, Bassey, Akpoguma; Onyeka, Ndidi, Iwobi; Chukwueze, Dennis, Onuachu.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
