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Friendly Match: Nigeria Vs Saudi Arabia To Play In Portugal
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.
Nigeria’s team news:
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’s team news:
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.
Nigeria’s probable starting XI:
Francis Uzoho, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Boniface.
Saudi Arabia’s probable starting XI:
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.
Prediction on the match:
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.
Nigeria’s Falconets have secured a crucial win in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign, defeating Korea Republic 1-0 in their group opener. The match played in Bogota, saw a thrilling late goal from Flourish Sabastine that sealed the victory for the Nigerian team.
This victory has placed the Falconets in a strong position to advance to the Round of 16. As they continue their journey in the tournament, all eyes are now on their upcoming match against tournament favourites Germany. Stay tuned to find out when this exciting clash will take place.
Falconets Edge Out Korea Republic
In a fiercely contested match between two familiar rivals, Nigeria’s Falconets emerged victorious over Korea Republic. Despite limited scoring opportunities, the Nigerian team managed to capitalize on their chances, especially in the second half.
The Koreans, who had suffered a narrow defeat to Nigeria in the previous U-20 Women’s World Cup, nearly took an early lead in the 28th minute. However, a crucial save by Shukurat Oladipo prevented the goal. Nigerian goalkeeper Shukurat Bakare also faced a challenge, failing to save a pull-out attempt from the Koreans.
In the second half, both Amina Bello and Sabastine had their shots blocked by the Korean defence. The decisive moment came when substitute Sabastine managed to find the back of the net with a well-placed shot.
The Falconets will now face a tough test against the three-time champion German team in their next match. Experts expect the Germans to be strong favourites in the upcoming encounter, as they have already defeated Venezuela.
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Germany Dominates Venezuela in World Cup Opener
Germany made a powerful statement in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup campaign, crushing Venezuela 5-2. The decisive victory puts them in a strong position to secure their fourth title.
The officials awarded Zdebel the Player of the Match title over Bender. Zdebel provided a crucial assist during the game. Bender scored two goals, delivering an impressive performance. However, the judges considered Zdebel’s impact on the game more significant than Bender’s goal-scoring feat.
Meanwhile, Falconets Head Coach Chris Danjuma emphasized that his team’s focus is on their own performance, rather than dwelling on the strength of their upcoming opponent, Germany. He stressed the importance of getting their tactics right against the Korean Republic in their opening match.
Analysts have well-documented Germany’s dominance in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. They have only suffered two losses in their last 20 group matches, sending a clear warning to their other group opponents.
Falconets’ Journey to FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
The Falconets secured their place in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup by successfully navigating their qualifying campaign. They defeated both Tanzania and Burundi on aggregate, securing one of Africa’s coveted tickets to the championship.
Despite their dominance in qualifying, the Falconets faced a setback at the African Games. They settled for a silver medal after failing to defend their gold. However, they displayed promising form in their first friendly against Australia, before facing a loss against Mexico.
Nigeria’s History at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
The Falconets made their debut in the competition in 2002 when it was known as the U19 Championship. Since then, they have consistently participated in the tournament, representing Nigeria on the global stage.
The Falconets have competed in various countries, including Thailand, Russia, Chile, Germany, Japan, Canada, Papua New Guinea, France, and Costa Rica. This year, the competition features 24 teams for the first time, making it more competitive than ever.
The Falconets understand the challenges ahead and know that they must start strong in Bogota to have a realistic chance of advancing to the Round of 16.
Falconets’ Group Stage Opponents
The Falconets have been placed in a challenging group for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. They will face Korea Republic, Germany, and Venezuela in their group-stage matches.
Nigeria’s second group game will be against Germany, taking place three days after their opening match against Korea Republic. The match will be held at the 10,000-seat Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota.
The Falconets will conclude their group stage campaign against Venezuela on September 7th. This match will be played at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in Cali.
Nigeria vs Germany
Date and Time: The Falconets of Nigeria will face Germany in a highly anticipated match. The teams will play on Wednesday, September 4th, 2024. The 10,000-seat Estadio Metropolitano de Techo in Bogota will host the game.
Where to Watch: Football enthusiasts can catch the live action on SuperSport and FIFA+. The match is scheduled to kick off at 11:00 PM Nigerian time.
For more sports updates, check here.
His departure from Barcelona has been marked by visible emotion from Vitor Roque. The 19-year-old striker left the club’s training facilities in tears after officials confirmed his transfer.
Barcelona has loaned Vitor Roque to Real Betis for one year. However, all indications suggest that this move contradicted the Brazilian youngster’s wishes. The transfer appears to have deeply affected Roque, highlighting the challenging nature of his situation at Barcelona.
Vitor Roque’s tenure at Barcelona has been fraught with difficulties. The young striker joined the Catalan club in January, carrying high expectations on his shoulders. Unfortunately, his time at Barcelona has not met these lofty hopes. Instead, Roque’s stint with the team has devolved into what many consider a disastrous experience, falling far short of both the club’s and the player’s initial aspirations.
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Barcelona’s winter signing Vitor Roque | X/@FCBarcelona
Vitor Roque struggled to establish himself under former manager Xavi Hernandez.
He found himself relegated to the fringes of the squad, unable to secure regular playing time. The arrival of Hansi Flick as the new manager failed to improve Roque’s situation. Instead, the club sidelined him early in the season, offering him few opportunities to show his talents.
The final days of Roque’s Barcelona tenure proved emotionally charged. During his last training session with the team, the young Brazilian reportedly broke down in tears, overwhelmed by the situation. His teammates and manager Hansi Flick stepped in to console the distraught player before he retreated to the changing rooms.
Vitor Roque broke down in tears during his final training session. Everything he had been going through was building up, and he just couldn’t hold it in any longer. @Mariio_RB
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) August 27, 2024
Roque’s departure from Barcelona clearly caused him obvious emotional pain. His visible distress also affected those at the club who had hoped to see him succeed. The scene at his final training session underscored the difficult nature of his exit and the unfulfilled potential of his time with the Catalan giants.
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