Super Eagles face European heavyweights Portugal and Poland in June friendlies

Nigeria’s push to regain momentum on the international stage will intensify in June after the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed high-profile friendlies against Portugal and Poland.

The fixtures offer head coach Eric Chelle a timely opportunity to measure progress following a mixed but encouraging run in a recent four-nation tournament in Turkey.

Nigeria claimed victory over Iran before playing out a 2-2 draw with Jordan, results that hinted at both attacking promise and defensive vulnerabilities.

Attention now turns to Europe, where the Super Eagles will first face Poland at the iconic PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on June 3.

The encounter is expected to provide a stern tactical examination against a physically disciplined Polish side. Seven days later, Nigeria will travel to Portugal for another demanding test, with the venue yet to be officially confirmed.

“NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, confirmed on Thursday that the clash with Poland will take place at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in the country’s capital, Warsaw on 3rd June, while the clash with Portugal will take place in Portugal on 10th June, with a venue to be announced in the coming days,” an NFF statement read.

The Portugal fixture carries added intrigue, as it will serve as the hosts’ final outing before departing for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

Nigeria, however, will not be part of that global showpiece after falling short in their qualification bid. Their campaign ended in disappointment following a failure to overcome DR Congo in a decisive playoff staged in Morocco.

Despite that setback, the Super Eagles showed resilience at the last Africa Cup of Nations, securing a third-place finish.

Their campaign was capped by a penalty shootout victory over Egypt after a tightly contested draw, offering a platform Chelle will hope to build upon as his team prepares for tougher opposition in June.