Nigeria’s impressive 12-match unbeaten streak came to an end on Wednesday after the Super Eagles suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portugal in an international friendly encounter.
Both teams battled evenly for much of the contest, with chances at either end, before Portugal eventually broke the deadlock in the 74th minute through Pedro Neto.
The Super Eagles responded strongly and restored parity eight minutes later. Akor Adams found the back of the net in the 82nd minute after latching onto a well-delivered pass from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and calmly finishing from close range.
With the game appearing destined for a draw, Portugal produced a late winner through Juventus winger Francisco Conceição.
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The talented attacker showcased his quality by beating Nigerian defender Zaidu Sanusi before curling a superb left-footed strike from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Nigeria pressed for another equaliser in the closing minutes but were unable to break down Portugal’s defence as the hosts held on for victory.
The result brought an end to Nigeria’s 12-game unbeaten run across both competitive and friendly matches, marking the team’s first defeat in several outings.
Despite the loss, the match provided a memorable milestone for midfielder Alex Iwobi, who made his 100th appearance for the Super Eagles. The Fulham star became only the fourth Nigerian player to reach the century mark in international football.
For Portugal, the victory serves as a confidence boost ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will compete in Group K alongside DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
