THE Super Eagles will play Saudi Arabia in a friendly during the next FIFA international window in October, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed.
The clash between the Nigerian men’s senior national team and the Green Falcons will take place in Portimao, Portugal on Friday, October 13, the NFF announced today.
Saudi Arabia, who caused one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history when they defeated eventual champions Argentina in a group match at the Qatar 2022 tournament, recently appointed former Manchester City and Italy manager Roberto Mancini as their head coach.
The clash with the Super Eagles will be Saudi Arabia’s third under former Italy striker Mancini, after they lost the first two to Costa Rica and South Korea last week and yesterday respectively.
The friendly is coming barely a month before three-time African champions Nigeria begin the race for a place at the 2026 World Cup with a home game against Lesotho.
Within the same FIFA window in November, the Super Eagles will play their second match of the qualification series, away to the Warriors of Zimbabwe.
Saudi Arabia have never faced Nigeria at senior international level, and the Asians will play Mali at the same Portuguese venue four days after the Super Eagles friendly.
The most memorable meeting between both countries remains the opening match of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1989, in which second half goals from Christopher Ohenhen and Mutiu Adepoju steered Nigeria to a comeback 2-1 victory over the hosts in Riyadh.
The Estadio Municipal de Portimão, in the Algarve, is the home ground of Portuguese Primeira Liga club Portimonense S.C. and it has a capacity of close to 10,000 spectators.
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