Nigeria is set to engage in an international friendly match against Saudi Arabia at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão in Portugal on Friday evening. The kick-off time for this international friendly match is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Following this encounter with Saudi Arabia, Nigeria’s national team will go on to face Mozambique in another friendly match the following week. These matches have been organized as part of the Super Eagles’ preparations for their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in November.
The most recent meeting between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia took place in 2010 in Austria, resulting in a goalless draw in that friendly match.
FIFA, the global governing body of football, has already designated Portuguese official, Luis Godinho, as the referee for this international friendly match between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Assisting Godinho on the field will be fellow countrymen, Bruno Jesus as assistant referee one, Tiago Costa as assistant referee two, and Miguel Noguera as the fourth official.
In addition, FIFA has appointed Helder Carvalho to oversee the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) operations, with Bruno Vieira serving as Carvalho’s assistant in the VAR room.
The Super Eagles’ head coach, Jose Peseiro, has already called up the 25 players who will assemble for the upcoming friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
Gift Orban was omitted and Terem Moffi from Nice was called instead, a change from the previous game against Sao Tome and Principe.
Unfortunately, Nottingham Forest’s attacker, Taiwo Awoniyi, will not be available for Nigeria’s friendly fixtures against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique due to an injury. Awoniyi recently suffered a groin injury during training with Nottingham Forest, which is expected to keep him sidelined for approximately a month. Nottingham Forest manager, Steve Cooper, confirmed this injury before their Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Furthermore, Nottingham Forest defender, Ola Aina has also been ruled out of the two friendly matches due to an injury. Aina was included in the 25-man squad for these games, but Nottingham Forest has confirmed that he is currently dealing with a muscle injury, with no definitive return date at the moment.
On a positive note, Jose Peseiro has extended an invitation to Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who currently plays for Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor, marking his maiden appearance in the national team.
The Super Eagles will commence their training camp in Faro, Portugal, today in preparation for the friendly matches.
In recent times, Nigeria has displayed solid form, winning three out of their last six matches against teams such as Sao Tome, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau (in a two-leg encounter), Portugal, and Costa Rica.
Saudi Arabia is heading into the match against Nigeria on the back of a challenging period, having suffered defeats in each of their last six matches. These losses came from the hands of South Korea, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Venezuela, Mexico, and Poland.
The Green Falcons are eager to secure their first victory under the guidance of their new coach, Roberto Mancini, who assumed the role in August.
Roberto Mancini has already revealed his 31-man squad for the upcoming matches against Nigeria and Mali in the following week. The majority of the players in the squad are based in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal contributing the most players, numbering 12, to the roster. This selection reflects Mancini’s approach to building the team and working with the talent available within the country.
Francis Uzoho, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Boniface.
Mohammed Al-Owais, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Saud Abulhamid, Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Mohamed Kanno, Eid Al-Muwallad, Firas Al-Buraikan, Abdullah Al-Hamdan.
There is a prevailing belief that Nigeria will beat Saudi Arabia, with the match ending 2-1 in favour of Nigeria.
This belief gained ground with an interview with Isa Saleh Sadiq, a Football scout and the CEO of International Football Academy based in Northern Nigeria, who gave his opinion on the match.
Sadiq said,
“This international friendly will be a tough one for both teams. The Saudi are yet to win a game under Mancini. I think the Italian has lost his first two games in charge of the team. So I expect him to come out with a formidable team that will match the Super Eagles.
“Let’s not forget that the Saudi team participated in the last World Cup in Qatar and even defeated the World Cup champions Argentina in the group stage in Qatar. So I expect a very close game against Nigeria.”
Expressing his happiness for some of the players invited by Peseiro to partake in the friendly game, Sadiq continued,
“I must give kudos to Peseiro for inviting players who are on form and playing regularly for their club sides. I am particularly happy to see OGC Nice player Terem Moffi, Victor Boniface, who plays for Bayer Leverkusen and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Hatayaspor for his maiden call-up to the national team.
However, I am not pleased that only one local player from the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) made the list in the person of [Olorunleke] Ojo, who is Enyimba FC goalkeeper.
Well, I don’t know why Peseiro did not invite at least three to five home-based players for this game. He has his reasons, maybe it was because the domestic league just started recently, I’m not certain but I hope in subsequent matches he invites the local players. This boosts the morale of players in the NPFL.”
When he was asked to give his prediction on the game, Sadiq said,
“Well, the last time both teams met, they drew goalless, that was over a decade. We now have a new crop of players on both teams.
However, like I said earlier, I don’t think the game will be easy for both teams. I expect a tough game and a close outcome. Nigeria won by 1-0 or 1-1 draw.”
If you would like to read more on sports news and updates, check here.
They chose Snoop Dogg because of his worldwide influence and cultural importance. This decision has excited fans all around the globe.
The committee released a statement expressing their happiness about Snoop Dogg’s participation. Snoop Dogg will carry the torch during the final part of its journey to the Olympic Stadium. The statement read,
“We are thrilled to announce that Snoop Dogg will be one of the final torchbearers for the 2024 Paris Olympics. His influence transcends music, impacting global culture and inspiring millions of young people. Having Snoop Dogg carry the torch embodies the spirit of unity and diversity that the Olympics stand for, bridging generations and celebrating the vibrancy of contemporary culture alongside our rich traditions.”
Snoop Dogg is a well-known rapper. He is famous for his charming personality. He has made many contributions to the music industry over the years. After hearing the news about carrying the Olympic torch, Snoop Dogg was very excited. He decided to share his feelings with his fans. He used his social media accounts to express his happiness about this opportunity.
“It’s an honour to be part of this historic event. Carrying the Olympic torch is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I can’t wait to represent my fans and the spirit of unity in Paris,” he stated.
The Olympics are now including modern celebrities to appeal to more people. The torch relay is an important Olympic tradition. It represents peace, friendship, and the strength of the human spirit. Having Snoop Dogg carry the torch will likely attract a lot of attention. It will add a new and modern element to the ceremony. This choice fits with the Paris Olympics’ aim to celebrate different cultures and include all types of people.
Many fans have shared their happiness about this decision on social media. They think it’s a good idea. Some people believe that including Snoop Dogg will make the Olympics more interesting for younger people. It might help them feel more connected to the event.
People around the world are looking forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Snoop Dogg’s part in the torch relay will probably be a big highlight. His unique personality will add something special to the celebration. It will show how the Olympic Games bring people together from all over the world.
This event will be an important moment in Olympic history. Snoop Dogg is getting ready to bring his special style to the Olympic ceremony. His participation will make the torch relay different from previous years. It might change how people think about who can be part of Olympic traditions.
The Olympic committee will share more information about this event as it gets closer. Interested people should watch for news updates. They can learn more about how Snoop Dogg will be involved in the ceremony. This unusual choice for a torch bearer shows that the Olympics are trying to connect with all kinds of people, not just sports fans.
Check out more updates here.
Mikel Obi, a former star player for Chelsea Football Club, has recently shared information about why he had to undergo surgery. The surgery was performed on his hamstring, a group of muscles at the back of the thigh. Mikel, widely regarded as a legend of the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, ended his professional football career in 2022.
Since retiring from the sport, Mikel has embarked on a new venture. He has started a podcast called “ObiOne.” There, he discusses various topics related to his life and career. This podcast serves as a platform for him to connect with fans and share his experiences.
Mikel’s football career was notably successful, especially during his time at Chelsea. He played for the London club from 2006 to 2017, a period of 11 years during which he won numerous trophies and accolades. After leaving Chelsea, Mikel moved to China to play for Tianjin Teda.
In the latter part of his career, Mikel played for several other clubs. He had stints at Stoke City in England, Trabzonspor in Turkey, and Middlesbrough back in England. These experiences in different leagues and countries added to his rich football career before he decided to retire.
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…explained that it was necessary due to a hamstring problem he experienced. This issue arose after he participated in a novelty match, typically a friendly or exhibition game often played for charitable causes or entertainment.
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Mikel said on his podcast, “I tore my hamstring, I think it’s old age catching up with me. I was involved in an exhibition game with some celebrities.
“We woke up in the morning, didn’t warm up, didn’t stretch properly, then we woke up in the morning to go play dodgeball.
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