World Cup 2026: Portugal can win the title – Nigeria coach Éric Chelle

Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle believes Portugal are genuine contenders to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the European side as one of the most complete teams heading into the tournament.

Chelle made the remarks ahead of the Super Eagles’ international friendly against Portugal in Leiria on Wednesday. The match will serve as the hosts’ final test before they begin their World Cup campaign.

The Malian tactician acknowledged the quality within the Portuguese squad and said he has been impressed by what he has seen from Roberto Martínez’s side in recent weeks.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Chelle highlighted Portugal’s strength across all areas of the pitch, from their defensive solidity to their pace and attacking threat.

“In every department on the field, they are good. Defensively, they are very strong and their full-backs are extremely quick and dynamic,” Chelle said.

The Nigeria coach revealed that he recently watched Portugal’s friendly encounter against Chile from the stands and came away impressed by both the team’s performance and the atmosphere surrounding the match.

“I watched their game against Chile at the stadium and it was a very good match. The atmosphere was fantastic and the quality of football was high. I was a little disappointed when the red card changed the game,” he added.

Chelle went on to back Portugal as one of the favourites for the global showpiece, insisting they possess all the qualities required to go all the way in North America.

“This team has a real chance of becoming world champions within the next month. They have the talent, experience and quality needed to win the World Cup,” he stated.

The former Mali coach also welcomed the opportunity for Nigeria to face such a high-calibre opponent, believing the encounter will provide valuable experience for his players.

For the Super Eagles, the friendly offers a chance to test themselves against one of Europe’s strongest national teams and measure their progress against elite opposition.

Portugal, meanwhile, will use the match as the final stage of their preparations before turning their attention to the World Cup, where expectations are high following a series of impressive performances in recent years.

With stars spread across every position and a squad boasting both youth and experience, Portugal will head into the tournament as one of the teams many observers believe can challenge for football’s biggest prize.

And if Chelle’s assessment is anything to go by, the Super Eagles coach expects Portugal to be among the last teams standing when the tournament reaches its conclusion.