Nigeria and Saudi Arabia were unable to be separated at the end of their second-ever meeting in Portugal yesterday, just as they were in their only previous meeting 13 years ago, which was also a friendly match. The three-time Asian champions scored a last-minute equalizer from a free-kick at the edge of the box that deflected off Calvin Bassey.
The Saudis, who had lost their previous six games across all competitions, took a shocking lead on the hour mark when goalkeeper Francis Uzoho palmed the ball into his own net from a free-kick way out on the right flank by Salman Al Faraj. Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze had first-half chances to put the Super Eagles ahead but could not.
Coach Jose Peseiro replaced the injured Victor Osimhen with Terem Moffi and replaced Tyronne Ebuehi, Lookman, and Chukwueze with Bright Osayi-Samuel, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Moses Simon.
This seemed to help Nigeria’s situation at the front, as Iheanacho and Simon freely unsettled the Falcons defense. Simon also set up Nigeria’s equalizer, skillfully laying the ball for Victor Boniface to score the country’s first goal from a close range in the 73rd minute.
Eight minutes later, after Moffi and Simon combined to knot up the opposition defense, Iheanacho hammered the ball forcefully into the net past the flailing hands of the Falcons goalie.
Less than 24 hours had passed since the Super Eagles announced they would be competing in the Africa Cup of Nations group stage against hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, and Equatorial Guinea early in the following year, and 48 hours had passed since they decided to use the phrase “Let’s Do It Again” as their catchphrase for the trophy run in Cote d’Ivoire.
Before the Super Eagles play Lesotho and Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next month, they will play the Mambas of Mozambique in another friendly match at the same location on Monday.
