Fulham midfielder, Alex Iwobi, marked his 100th appearance for the Nigeria national football team on Wednesday night, but the milestone was overshadowed as the Super Eagles fell 2-1 to Portugal in an international friendly at the Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria.
The 30-year-old midfielder’s century of caps places him as the fourth Nigerian player to reach the landmark, moving level with former captain Joseph Yobo in joint-third on the all-time appearance list.
Only Ahmed Musa and Vincent Enyeama have featured more times for Nigeria.
Despite the emotional significance of the occasion, Iwobi put in a composed shift in midfield as Nigeria struggled to match Portugal’s intensity and attacking depth.
Portugal struck first in the 23rd minute through Pedro Neto, who finished clinically after a swift counterattack, placing a low effort beyond Maduka Okoye into the far corner.
The hosts, however, responded before halftime when Akor Adams capitalised on a defensive lapse, using his strength to unsettle the Portuguese backline before drilling a low finish past Diogo Costa to make it 1-1 in the 37th minute.
Cristiano Ronaldo also came close on two occasions in the first half, first dragging a clear chance wide and later failing to convert a header, as Nigeria survived early pressure.
Both sides made changes after the break, with Portugal increasing their dominance and hitting the woodwork before eventually restoring their lead in the 75th minute.
Francisco Conceição produced the decisive moment, cutting inside from the flank and firing a low, powerful strike beyond Maduka Okoye into the bottom corner.
Nigeria introduced fresh legs in search of an equaliser, but Roberto Martínez’s side managed the closing stages effectively to secure the win.
For Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle, the result marked his first defeat in normal time since taking charge.
His previously impressive unbeaten run came to an end after 25 matches without a loss in regulation time, comprising 16 wins and nine draws, with his only prior defeats coming via penalty shootouts.
Portugal, under Roberto Martínez, made five changes from their previous outing against Poland and showed their squad depth as they continued their strong build-up toward the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria will now shift focus to upcoming preparations ahead of their next competitive fixtures, while Portugal extend their positive friendly form heading into the tournament.
