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Martinez Praises Super Eagles Depth, Says Nigeria Remain Strong Without Osimhen and Lookman
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has praised the quality and depth of the Super Eagles squad, insisting Nigeria remain a formidable opponent despite the absence of star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
The two attackers were excused from Nigeria’s squad for the international friendly after helping the Super Eagles retain the Unity Cup title in London. Head coach Eric Chelle explained that both players were rested following demanding club campaigns in Europe.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Martinez said he expects a highly competitive contest, highlighting Nigeria’s tactical flexibility and the variety of options available to the coaching staff.
The former Belgium manager revealed that he was particularly impressed by Nigeria’s recent performances, including their friendly against Poland, and commended Chelle’s willingness to adapt systems to suit different players.
“I expect a Nigerian team that is very competitive. I enjoyed the last game against Poland and I really like the coach’s ideas,” Martinez said during his pre-match press conference.
“The different systems they use fit different players in different positions, and that makes them difficult to prepare for.”
Martinez acknowledged that Osimhen and Lookman are among Africa’s elite attacking talents but stressed that Nigeria possess enough quality throughout the squad to remain a major threat.
“Obviously players like Osimhen and Lookman are not here, but they have other players who perform at very high levels,” he added.
The Portugal boss also reserved special praise for Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi and Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, describing both players as experienced professionals capable of influencing big matches.
“I expect a very competitive game. Nigeria have quality players with a lot of experience, like Bassey and Iwobi, players I know very well. It will be a match that helps both teams in many aspects.”
Nigeria head into the fixture in confident mood after an impressive international window that saw them defeat Zimbabwe and Jamaica to successfully defend the Unity Cup, while also earning a draw away to Poland.
For Chelle and his players, the clash against World Cup-bound Portugal offers another opportunity to test themselves against elite opposition as preparations continue for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
