Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has described Nigeria’s international friendly against Portugal as a valuable opportunity to assess the team’s development under head coach Eric Chelle.
The Beşiktaş midfielder said the clash against the European heavyweights would provide a clear indication of how far the Super Eagles have progressed as they continue rebuilding following their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria will face Portugal on Wednesday in one of their biggest tests since Chelle took charge, with the team looking to build form ahead of future competitions.
Portugal clash seen as key benchmark
Ndidi acknowledged the quality within Portugal’s squad and believes facing top opposition is essential for the Super Eagles’ growth.
“It will be a very good test for us. We made the first test against Poland and Portugal is a great team, a massive team with big players as well,” Ndidi said during Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.
“So, it will also be a very massive test for us as a group, for our vision, for our aim as a team, for our growth, it will be a very good test for us.”
The midfielder stressed that the focus is not solely on the result but on measuring the team’s progress and understanding areas that still require improvement.
Ndidi praises Chelle’s influence
Ndidi also credited Chelle for creating a positive atmosphere within the squad, saying the coach has helped unite the players around a common objective.
“Eric is a very great manager. He is an amazing guy. The way he brings the team together is really good because everyone is so happy having him around,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup, the 29-year-old admitted it remains a painful memory but insisted the squad is now concentrating on future targets.
“Missing out on the World Cup is really sad, everyone can say that, but the aim is not just to beat ourselves on what we’ve missed. It is to actually look forward to the bright future and what we can actually achieve together as a team.”
Ndidi added that the players remain confident regardless of the opposition they face.
“We believe in ourselves. We don’t care who we’re playing, even if we’re playing the likes of the biggest countries in the world.”
The Super Eagles captain concluded by saying the team is determined to keep improving and ensure missing out on the World Cup does not happen again as they prepare for future qualification campaigns.
