Nigeria defender Igho Ogbu faces late fitness test ahead of Portugal friendly

Nigeria’s preparations for Wednesday’s international friendly against Portugal have been overshadowed by uncertainty surrounding the fitness of defender Igho Ogbu, who is set to undergo further medical examinations in Lisbon.

The Super Eagles continued their build-up to the match with a training session on Sunday evening, attended by 22 players as the squad stepped up preparations for what is expected to be a significant test against high-level opposition.

The session formed part of the coaching staff’s ongoing assessment of the squad’s physical condition and tactical readiness ahead of the encounter with Portugal. As preparations intensify, attention has increasingly turned to the situation involving Ogbu.

Recent reports had suggested the defender could leave the national team camp and return to his club because of injury concerns. However, those reports have not materialised, with the player remaining in Lisbon alongside his international teammates.

Ogbu continues to work closely with both the medical department and the technical staff as efforts are made to determine the extent of his injury. His presence in camp has provided some encouragement, although uncertainty remains over his availability.

The defender is scheduled to undergo a scan on Monday in Lisbon. The results of those examinations are expected to provide a clearer picture of the severity of the issue and whether he will be fit enough to feature in upcoming matches.

Medical staff will analyse the findings before making a final recommendation regarding his participation against Portugal. Until then, the coaching team is continuing preparations while awaiting a definitive update on the player’s condition.

The friendly is viewed as an important opportunity for Nigeria to evaluate both its tactical approach and the depth of the squad against strong opposition.

The match also offers the technical staff a chance to further refine plans and assess player combinations ahead of future competitive fixtures.

With 22 players already involved in training, Nigeria are gradually moving closer to finalising their preparations. However, Ogbu’s fitness remains one of the key issues facing the Super Eagles camp.

For now, the defender remains fully integrated within the squad, while all eyes turn to the outcome of Monday’s medical tests, which could play a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s defensive options for the clash against Portugal.