Portugal head coach Fernando Santos has released a 26-man squad for the international friendly against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The squad will also represent the Europeans at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Manchester United forward, Cristiano Ronaldo as expected is included in the squad along with the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao, Joao Felix and Ruben Neves.
Ronaldo is the all-time goalscorer international football with 117 goals.
The 37-year-old has however not scored in his last three appearances for Portugal.
Veteran defender, Pepe, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Bernardo Silva and Andre Silva were also included in the squad.
Read Also: Peseiro: Why I Want Okoli To Represent Super Eagles
The friendly against Nigeria will take place next week Thursday in Lisbon.
Portugal will kick off their World Cup campaign against on November 23 against Ghana
They also face Uruguay and South Korea in Group H.
Portugal squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (FC Porto), Jose Sa (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Rui Patricio (AS Roma).
Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Joao Cancelo (Manchester City), Danilo Pereira (Paris St Germain), Pepe (FC Porto), Ruben Dias (Manchester City), Antonio Silva (SL Benfica), Nuno Mendes (Paris St Germain), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund).
Midfielders: Joao Palhinha (Fulham FC), Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Joao Mario (SL Benfica), Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Vitinha (Paris St Germain), William Carvalho (Real Betis), Otavio (FC Porto).
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid), Rafael Leao (AC Milan), Ricardo Horta (SC Braga), Goncalo Ramos (FC Benfica), Andre Silva (RB Leipzig).
By Adeboye Amosu
37 Comments
Another defeat for Nigeria loading
Nigeria to unleash crack team against Portugal..list adebayi Samuel ksk.latvia
Dega okoro fc donek Ukraine
Muyiwa babmus. Vft Poland
Eric James dwerk fc Switzerland
Abubaker Timmy Al wusis Japan
Bennarnd oluj fc towon china
Dybala thankgod. Ruiz fc Argentina
Oluwalana peter Bolton fc
Ahmed Musa sivasspor turkey
Boniface oyom. Adalayar fc Kuwait
Iwobi Everton London
Adeleke tolu unattached Belgium
Cosmos Paul. Comado fc Nepal
Dangerman Eric atletico Madrid
Sanjo demehin. Owusu fc Ghana
Buhari Mohammed Celtic Scotland
Onuachu. Genk Belgium
Iheanacho Leicester London
Is there a way NIGERIA can BOYCOTT this FRIENDLY?
Cos I see another EMBARRASSMENT/DISGRACE LOADING……
Name a portugals No 9 and I will name ours. again if Nigeria gets thier head out of thier asses for a good year and do things right. We should be ranked top 20 in the world . The problem with Nigeria Ball is people in this country do not understand that you cannot take light weights to a heavy weight fight. in this case it is Heavy Weight vs Heavy weight and I do not fear Portugal. if Piesero selects the right squad from our stars then this match can go either way. it is when people like Babaginda, Nwosu and co will start to debate using NPFL players for such encounters which seems to be the case these days that is when we have a problem. NIGERIA NFF. NPFL players should be resigned to CHAN assignments for Now such encounters needs our Osimhens, Lookmans and co to prosecute them and that way the constant need to chop and change will be limited. Like for instance if Aribo is injured why look at NPFL for a replacement when you have the likes of Alhasan Yusuf. this is my problem with the reasoning of Nigerian football. Why even still invite Ahmed Musa when you have a player like Ejuke that kind of thing Nigeria Football needs a completely different understanding of the modern game
LMFAO…
@GREENTURF this is beyond CHALLENGE..
This is SUFFER/PUNISHMENT..
Am not sure if you READ the LIST…
I mean with those HIGH PROFILE NAMES from very HIGH PROFILE CLUBS…..
With the way Am seeing MANCHESTER, MANCHESTER, PSG, everywhere you call that just a mere CHALLENGE???
The only MUSHROOM CLUB there is PROBABLY FULHAM or WOLVES….
SMH….
Portugal always will be a herculean challenge for any top team let alone Nigeria.
Super eagles gaffer Jose Peseiro said it’s a learning experience for his wards knowing the daunting task of facing the former European champions at home in a fully rammed stadium a world cup bound team full of superstars.
Super eagles have to be ambitious and audacious to compete favourably,they have to be extremely bold after all it’s 11 players against 11.
Looking at the players we have I don’t think we are far behind in quality.Players like Leon Balogun,Bassey,Sanusi,Etebo,Ndidi,Iwobi,Lookman,Moffi and evergreen Victor Osimhen are quality challenge against any team in the world.An African team having players I have listed has no business not going to the world cup,it takes for a coach like Eguavoen to fail with this set of players and a bully sports minister Sunday Dare.This two were the reason we are not participating in Qatar 2022.
With Nigeria First team.. This is what I am waiting for. I do Not fear Portugal. Victor Osimhen, Iwobi, Lookman, Chukwueze, Ndidi, Bassey, Aribo, Aina.. I hop NFF will see the difference between Local and international stars. Oh no but they won’t want to see that, its all personal interest with that lot!.
Aina is out injured,hopefully Ebuehi takes his place.
Meanwhile,there’s a Nigerian who plays right back for Fenerbahce i think he has done well enough to get a look in.Kim of Napoli also came from that team and today he’s one of the best in the world.So we shouldn’t look down on players outside the top 5 league of European football,they may just be as good or better.
Indeed Can NPFL teams beat players from Fenerbache? No!. For me it is a better developement if a Player from NPFL moves toa Fenerbache or Besiktas or Galatasary, Olympiakos (Greece), Rangers (Scotland ) even Slavia Praha (Czech) or Shaktar Donestsk (Ukraine) even Club Brugge, Genk these are good clubs that compete in strong European comps then we know they are developing, not going to Malta second division or Libya league and then just dissapear of the radar. another player I really want to see in SE squad for this game and who should have played against Costa Rica if Salisu Yusuf had some sense is Olisa Ndah. And yes i forgot Aina’s Injury Tyronne is a Good Replacement. If I was Pisero I would also use this opportunity to reach out to Destiny Udogie asap!
Destiny Udogie is also injured my bad!. but it will be a good opportunity to convince him now
LMFAO…
@GREENTURF this is beyond CHALLENGE..
This is SUFFER/PUNISHMENT..
Am not sure if you READ the LIST…
I mean with those HIGH PROFILE NAMES from very HIGH PROFILE CLUBS…..
With the way Am seeing MANCHESTER, MANCHESTER, PSG, everywhere you call that just a mere CHALLENGE???
The only MUSHROOM CLUB there is PROBABLY FULHAM or WOLVES….
SMH….
We all know this players @Monkey i’m sure the main actors on the pitch our players are looking forward to the challenge.
This is the kind of game that brings out the beast in them,you will be surprised with the outcome.
Players like Moses simon,Lookman,Osimhen,Iheanacho,Moffi,Balogun,Sanusi,Bassey,Ebuehi,Etebo,Ndidi,Iwobi,Onuachu,Akpoguma,Olayinka,Onyedika,Onyekuru are having a fantastic season most of whom ply their trade in the top 5 European leagues same leagues of the Portuguese players.Our players know them inside out i’m not saying it’s going to be easy but it’s not a challenge too big for us.
Apart from our regulars,I expect to see at least 3 uncapped players for the Portugal friendly.They are Victor Boniface(Royale Union Saint Gilloise,Belgium), David Okereke(US Cremonese,Italy) and Alhassan Yusuf(Royal Antwerp, Belgium). Victor Osimhen,Alex Iwobi ,Ademmola Lookman ,Paul Onuachu and the rest are in form and can shoot down the World Cup-bound Portuguese.
Another player That if Nigeria have sense the time to call Eze is now after England did not select him. NFF reach out an invite to Eberechi Eze now!!!!!… Thank me later
Call up a player who is currently ineligible to play for Nigeria (not until he has gone through he process of a FIFA international switch)…? LMAOooo. Really…?
Why not also add David Alaba, Karim Adeyemi and Fikayo Tomori to your list of immediate dreamland callups….? LMAOOoo.
So you are saying Eze ineligibility is the same as that of ALaba, Fikayo and Adeyemi abi. Players who have sealed thier international Ties.
I forgot all you want to see is Ahmed 100yrs old Musa in the team, you are happy to see Super Eagles Stagnante typical brainless clown. Yes Dr.Drey they should wait until Next year for Englands next International engagements after the world cup to notify Eze and not use this period when he has just been let down by England and is more susceptible to switch due to the disappointment. yes lets not use this opporunity to lure him. Good sound thinking @Dr. Drey. You Clown!!
Get rid of the Weakest Link and right now out of the current SE “regulars”.. Ahmed Musa is the WEAKEST LINK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well said Brodaman @Ugo. If Eze is invited, he will work hard to make his switch to Nigeria work. We must learn to call a spade a spade. Eberechi Eze will give Aribo good competition in midfield.
Thank you Bro @Ignatius Abo it only makes sense to use this recent development of Missing out on England’s world Cup Lis and obvious set back and Disappoint for Eze to bring him and make him Jump Ship. it will also be the perfect slap in the face for England and a huge + for Nigeria. i am sure Eze will add a 1 million times more to our cause than a certain Ahmed Musa even if they play different positions and it will be a clear indication that Nigeria means business and is building a machine for AFcon 2023 and WC 2026
No Harm in Sacrificing ! attacking Option (Ahmed Musa) for a Midfielder (Eze) I mean Nigeria need to change dynamics now we have this too many attackers and very few Midfielders list. Out of the current Se lists being released over the last year or 2, I would definitely bring in Eberchi Eze and drop a Player Like Ahmed Musa. that is how countries that have just had set back after set back react!.
Thumbs Up @Ugo. You are one of the few people who make me come here to comment on anything. All these people shoving Musa down our throats are the enemies of progress.
Musa is not the first player to score world cup goals. Amuneke scored 2 goals for Nigeria at the World Cup. Even Pius Ikedia played far better football than Musa at the World Cup. Let’s call a spade a spade, Musa must go. We are sick and tired of him gathering dust on the bench for the Super Eagles. Anayo Iwuala is far better than Musa. The goals scored by Musa in the World Cup did not take Nigeria to the semi-finals so what is the big deal? The goals against Iceland and Argentina are not big deal. Julius Aghaowa scored a far better goal against Sweden in 2002.
Let Musa go a beg.
Hahahaha…when you are done wet-dreaming, go and tell your “English” brat to rot at the gates of the English FA. We aint calling up and silly kid who thinks he’s better than the entire black race. Charcoal-black boy bearing the name “Eberechi Eze” completely denying his roots and claiming to be “English” just because he had one good season in the championship….LMAoooo. What stupidity….!!!
It is such a fool you want us to go and bow down to even when he’s not yet eligible to feature for us, nor shown any sign of wanting to. So once he has had his feeling of revenge against England, he can now start playing us like ping-pong and choosing the matches he will play for us kwanu…??
Im not surprised. Shame has no shame. So a shameless vagabond like you suggesting we go and grovel at his feet in order to placate his heartbreak and so he can use us as a rebound is no surprise to me. You have always proven to be nothing but a bigot with no sense of selfworth……LMAOoo. So such a dumb idea coming from you is something we have come be used to on this forum.
In case you do not know, the love of a rebound NEVER LASTS.
We invited him and his mates to a London camp, his mates are already Nigerian internationals today. We invited him to a friendly vs Ukraine, he chose to honour England U21 invite instead. We delayed our AFCON qualifier list because of him, he chose rather to go sit on England U21 bench for a UEFA U21 Euros qualifier and was still rooted to the bench at the main tournament proper.
If he wasnt as stupid and senseless as you, he should have known by then that if he’s not considered good enough as a starter at U21 level, how in hell will he be good enough for the senior squad. But no, he’s of the same dumb stock as you, he kept day dreaming of playing at the world cup for England with his 3 goals and 2 assists for CRYSTAL PALACE of all teams…..LMAOOoo. Even people playing for Roma and AC Milan stood no chance at the end of the day…..LMAOOoo.
Tell your brat to go rot wherever he wishes to rot in England. The day he starts feeling Nigerian, he should let us know. Then we will give him the go ahead to apply to FIFA for a switch to Nigeria and become eligible to be even invited in the first place.
Nor be only Eze we go invite, we go invite even Kevin De Bruyne join sef…..LMAOoo
Iberibe….!
Punk ass fool where has your pride got you?. Its the same giberish you were talking about Bukayo saka when we were debating Nigerian needs to know that special talent of dual nationality will always have both suitors on them. Myself and @Akp were right you are a blind arguer that does not accept wrong where with this mentality get you or Nigeria. Being comfortable with mediocrity I mean it is not as if we are not watching the World Cup from our Couches. So lets just keep talking the same crap we have been talking for 3 years. Even if its getting us nowhere stik with petting finished Musa and raise big shoulders towards BIG Talents like Eze even if the Competition will bring the best out of Eze, Iwobi and Aribo. No Mumu we are not building for 2023 and 26 lets stick with the same arrogance that brought us the inevitable outcome of watching the World Cup from our Couches. @Dr. Drey you are a big clown. Mumu na wettin you be..
Yeah @Dr Drey these players are robots and they do not see stories of Nigeria Owing the coaches six month salaries. And player bonuses not being paid.. yeah Playing for Nigeria offers more perks than England. Look at how we treat a player like Victor Moses who won us Afcon 2013 and helped qualified us for World Cup 2018 he is sure being celbrated as a big legend for Choosing Nigeria. Even though chosing Nigeria affected the way he was eventually treated in England. Mumu.
Hahahaha….senseless fool…..dont you know how to type letters….?
Type invitation letter and send it to your overrated spoilt brat yourself na…..LMAOoo.
If it pains you too much that I dont accept senseless arguments that lack merit, proof or affirmation go and eat grass. It is not by force to force your brainless emotions on other people.
For your information you fool, We didnt miss out of the world cup because we didnt have enough quality players, we are going to be watching the WC from our couches because of idiots like you. I hope you are happy now that your wish of firing a performing coach has been rewarded with being disgraced out of AFCON, being booted out of the WC and these talented players having to wait another 4 years for a chance to be at a world cup. The less of people like you we have in existence, the better for Nigeria as a whole.
1 good season in the championship and your tin-god started feeling like a top dog in the world of football, turning Nigerian callups down 3 times to go beg for alms at the gates of the 3 lions camp……LMAOoo. May he rot there for all we care.
You must be a really big fool for mentioning Ebere Eze in the same breath with Bukayo Saka…..You are absolutely senseless.
Saka has been a prospect from the first time he stepped out for arsenal as a teenager. Not anybody gets to wear an arsenal shirt. Chasing him was never going to yeild any fruits for us, so I was one of the wise ones who advised that we should just leave the boy alone and have I not been proven right…?
Not some pompous fool who has been on loan all over the place including league one….LMAOOoo….and has 1 good season for QPR and starts thinking we are all lowlifes like you who should come and prostrate at his feet and beg him to play for us. Ill-bred boy that we invited to our camp together with his mates when they were all nobodies. The rest have become Nigerian internationals, he is still foolishly feeling “English”……LMAOooo
No wonder you are such a worthless human being, because even from your behavior on this forum, it is evident you lack self-worth.
Once again, go and tell him to continue feeling English now that he’s already above the age of playing for England U21 where he could not even tie down a starters shirt all the while. When he comes to his senses, he will know what to do…….LMAOoo. You can borrow him some of your rabied senses ehn….LMAO….since you think you are sensible.
We are not begging any sissies to play for us. We will rather continue petting Musa (at least, he is still the only beacon of hope that a player from our local league can move straight to a top league like the Dutch Eredivisie), than going to denigrate ourself to beg a crystal palace player who couldnt even start for an England U21 team that crashed out of U21 Euros in the group stages.
Hmmm. Until Eze starts suing many of you for calling him a Nigerian before you all know what’s up.
Even Saka, an already England international is more Nigerian than him. Saka has come out time without number to share his naija way of upbringings. I’ve never read such from Eze.
Anyways, may be now that his fellow England wannabe brothers have been either totally forgotten or dropped, he’ll have a rethink.
Jordon Ibe is as good as retired in his 20s
Ross Barkley has totally turned ordinary, even Ahmed Musa, Etebo and Shehu are more active than him and Dele Alli nowadays.
Tomori, An Italian league champion dropped for a comedian Maguire and Coady.
Tammy Abraham also dropped and this guy called Southgate still searching for more naija guys that he will end their football career at tender age.
If we have their family members in the house, go and warn the likes of….
Okoli. Atalanta
Edogie Tottenham / Udinese
Edozie Southampton
Eze C Palace
Olise C Palace
Curtis Jones Liverpool
Schaade Freiburg…
That they are all average players like Bassey, Aribo and co.
They can only become super stars by playing along side their fellow naija blood. Blood they say is thicker than water. Ask Odemwingie (World Cup 2010, 2014, Olympic Silver)
Danny Shittu (World cup 2010)
Iwobi, Moses, Balogun, Ekong, etc how far.
They’ve already been at the World Cup that you people are fighting to go with Nigeria.
Nigerians and how they hype friendly matches. Portugal has world cup to play, they won’t approach this match with seriousness to avoid any injuries. Nigeria in other hand will take it as a world cup. The world cup go be, Portugal’s first match with Ghana will be a very thrilling encounter. The Black Stars can match them squarely, the Portuguese are not any extra ordinary side. Let’s support Ghana
Just a practice match for Portugal, nothing serious. The world cup proper is what everyone is waiting for
Yes we all know that you don’t need to rub it in our face,like I said to your compatriot our best wishes for Ghana but we as super eagles fans have to move on its never the end of the world.
You can water down this encounter as much as you like that’s your problem most of us will enjoy watching the world cup simply because we have moved on from the hurt of not qualifying.
Life must move on.
It is not just a practice match. Portugal is exercising its tactics against a West African side in anticipation of Ghana.
Their team list is even intimidating for Nigeria, let alone Ghana.
Based on the best clubs of two attackers/one midfielder/two defenders Portugal is like Man Utd/AC Milan/Man City/PSG/Man City, relatable to a top 4 premiership team. Nigeria is more like a midtable team Napoli/Atlanta/Leicester/Ajax/Hoffenheim while Ghana is Crystal Palace/Cremonense/Arsenal/Leicester/Salzburg.
This says Nigeria has equivalent quality upfront, I believe our midfield can match them, but our defense is not the same quality.
Portugal defeated Czech Republic 4-0, a team with a quality spine of players from Fiorentina/West Ham/West Ham/Torino/West Ham. I believe Nigeria has a better player-quality spine than the Czech Republic.
Yeah we won’t kill ourselves just because we failed to qualify for the world cup.Yes we will hype it it’s our own world cup.
Brilliant good-luck with your world cup we don’t have a problem with your world cup participation after all you earned it enjoy.
Yeah. just as Nigeria drew with Brazil 1-1 in a friendly and the same thing walloped you -0. Same friendly. Same players. Same coach.
See him and his brother trying to play down the Portugal friendly because they’re afraid Nigeria will get a decent result, while Portugal will decimate them at Qatar before South Koria and Uruguay complete the rout and send you home under a week.
I beg Paseiro and the SE players not to hesitate to give Portugal all the information they need for Qatar – tacktics, players, anything. Everything is fair in love and war.
You think you would have qualified with 2 drwas if Paseiro had been in charge? It would have been a walkover. The first is not always the best. Argue with the current FIFA ranking.
The same Brazil decimated you 3-0. Same friendly
Fairly good list!
Coach Peseiro is starting to put his imprint on this team regarding player-invitation. Several promising invitations. Time to gradually move off some players who have become nothing but dead-weight on the team.
I still believe, we need long-term solution in the goal keeping department. I advise Kayode Bankole be given a chance. You recognize a natural talent when you see one.
As for young Raphael Onyedika, he still has some ways to go. Bring in Kelechi Nwakali who has tremendous passing range but also bring in young workaholic mid-fielder Alhassan Yusuf to do the dirty work behind him.
We have been playing soccer long before Mr. Rohr landed in these parts and will continue to do so. He is fluent in French if I’m not mistaken but Morrocco didn’t deem it fit to hire him after firing their previous coach not too long ago.
Didn’t he offer his much sought-after services to French club Bordeaux some time ago?
Funny, and Ghana parked you out of the world cup right? Nigeria has never even made it to the world cup quarter finals before and you dey hype yourselves like that. The world cup is for Big BOYS
Nigeria is a football nation and Portugal is also a football nation. That is very simple.
This is what I love most, top football match. Our boys have something to prove against Portugal. They have too. God bless Nigeria!!!