Sports
All you need to know about Nigeria vs Saudi Arabia Friendly Match
Nigeria will face Saudi Arabia in an international friendly at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão, in Portugal on Friday evening.
The kick-off time for the international friendly match is 5pm.
After the Saudi Arabia clash this week, Nigeria will then take on Mozambique next week in another friendly game.
Both matches will serve as preparation for the Super Eagles’ 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho in November.
The last game between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia was in 2010 in Austria and the friendly match ended in a 0-0 draw.
World football-governing body, FIFA, has already appointed Portuguese official Luis Godinho as referee for the international friendly match between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
Godinho will be assisted by compatriots Bruno Jesus (assistant referee one), Tiago Costa (assistant referee two) and Miguel Noguera (fourth official).
FIFA also appointed Helder Carvalho to head the situation in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room, and Bruno Vieira as Carvalho’s assistant.
Nigeria team news:
Head coach of the Super Eagles, Jose Peseiro, has already called up 25 players to camp for the upcoming friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique.
Gent forward, Gift Orban has not been called up. Instead, Nice’s Terem Moffi was invited after he was left out for Nigeria’s last game against Sao Tome and Principe.
Nottingham Forest attacker, Taiwo Awoniyi will play no part in Nigeria’s two friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique because of injury.
Awoniyi recently sustained a groin injury in training with Nottingham Forest which could see him sidelined for up to a month.
Nottingham Forest manager, Steve Cooper confirmed Awoniyi’s injury prior to his side’s Premier League 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Also, Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina has been ruled out of the two friendlies with injury.
Aina was named in the 25-man squad for both games by Peseiro.
But Aina’s Premier League club, Nottingham Forest, have since confirmed he is currently sidelined with a muscle injury.
The former Chelsea star’s return date is presently not known.
Meanwhile, Peseiro handed Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who currently plays his club football for Turkish Super Lig club Hatayspor, his maiden invitation to the team.
Peseiro’s side will open camp in Faro, Portugal, on Tuesday for the friendly tie.
Nigeria have won three of their last six matches against Sao Tome, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau (two-legs), Portugal and Costa Rica.
Saudi Arabia team news:
Saudi Arabia head to the game against Nigeria after losing all their last six matches.
The Asian powerhouse lost against South Korea, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Venezuela, Mexico and Poland.
The Green Falcons will be hoping to get their first victory under their new coach, Roberto Mancini who was appointed in August.
Mancini has already unveiled his 31-man squad for the Nigeria clash this week and the Mali game next week.
The former Manchester City manager called up thirty one players based in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Hilal contributing the most players to the roster (12).
Nigeria’s probable starting XI:
Francis Uzoho, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, Kenneth Omeruo, Calvin Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface.
Saudi Arabia’s probable starting XI:
Mohammed Al-Owais, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Hassan Al-Tambakti, Saud Abulhamid, Salem Al-Dawsari, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Mohamed Kanno, Eid Al-Muwallad, Firas Al-Buraikan, Abdullah Al-Hamdan.
Prediction:
It is believed that Nigeria will beat Saudi Arabia. The match could end 2-1 in favour of Jose Peseiro’s side.
Mikel Merino led Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Merino’s first-half header settled the London derby at the Emirates Stadium and saw second-placed Arsenal move within 12 points of leader Liverpool.
Arsenal’s title hopes have faded in recent weeks, but it closed the gap on Liverpool, which was playing Newcastle in the English League Cup final later in the day.
Merino rose in the 20th minute to flick Martin Odegaard’s near post corner beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. It was enough to secure a first league win for Mikel Arteta’s team since February 15.
Defeat for fourth-placed Chelsea means it missed the chance to extend its one-point lead over Manchester City in fifth and boost its chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Arsenal, on 58 points, is 10 clear of four time defending champion City.
Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen netted a hat-trick as Galatasaray secured a decisive 4-0 win against Antalyaspor on Friday night.
Álvaro Morata added a goal from the penalty spot to complete the dominant victory.
Osimhen opened the scoring at Rams Park, converting an assist from Morata in the 30th minute.
Morata doubled the lead with a penalty in the 45th minute and three minutes into the injury time of the first half, Osimhen struck again, assisted by B. Yılmaz.
The Nigerian striker completed his hat-trick, with Y. Akgün providing the assist in the 52nd minute.
This hat trick elevates Osimhen’s season tally to 20 league goals in 22 appearances, making him the top scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Since joining Galatasaray on loan from Napoli after the fourth game of the season, Osimhen has amassed 26 goals and 5 assists across all competitions in 30 appearances.
Galatasaray’s dominant display reinforces their position at the summit of the Süper Lig.
Prior to this match, they led the standings with 68 points from 26 matches, maintaining an unbeaten record with 21 wins and 5 draws.
Their closest rivals, Fenerbahçe, have accumulated 61 points from 25 matches.
With this victory, Galatasaray extends their lead to 71 points, bolstering their pursuit of the league title.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has provided the latest update on Bukayo Saka ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Chelsea this weekend.
Saka has been sidelined for over two months due to a hamstring injury.
The England winger has missed several matches for Arteta’s side, including their draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Speaking in his pre-match interview ahead of Sunday’s clash, Arteta said Saka is getting closer to returning to action for the Gunners.
“He [Saka] is getting closer,” Arteta said.
“He’s stepping up and making very good progress. Let’s see when we decide to throw him in, how he reacts, and how quickly he can regain full fitness.”
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League table, behind leaders Liverpool.
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