Nigeria lost 4-0 to Portugal at the Estadio de Alvalade in Lisbon on Thursday, in the Selecao’s final game before jetting off to Qatar for the World Cup.
The gulf in technical quality was too obvious as the Nigerian team was outclassed and the defense was all over the shop and Portugal had it easy.
Speaking after the game, Nigeria’s head coach, Jose Peseiro admitted , that his team was no where close to their counterpart and a lot needs to be improved upon.
He also reiterated that the score line was over exaggerated as Nigeria had the chance to halve the deficit but missed the opportunity to make it 2:1 after Emmanuel Dennis missed from the spot.
Nigeria collapsed afterwards much to the dismay of the gatter as the team conceded two goals in the next four minutes, something Jose Peseiro condemned. He insists the players needed to show more character after missing the penalty.
“We have to improve and improve a lot. It was a first half below what we expected, the second was much better,” Peseiro told Portuguese media outlet A Bola
“Portugal was better, they are superior, they have a great selection, but the scoreline is heavy and exaggerated because we could have made it 2-1 and then we suffered 0-3 and 0-4. We cannot concede four goals and some of them the way they were.”
“It was a great emotion to be in this stadium where I spent great moments, facing Portugal, listening to the anthem. I am sad about the result, but being here and facing Portugal was a pleasure,” the 62 year-old said.
Peseiro has now lost four friendlies since his appointment, although his team defeated Sao Tome and Principe & Sierra Leone in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
Nigeria have also been winless in their last 14 friendly matches, drawing 5 and losing 9 games.
