The Super Eagles showed again why they will not be at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a most forgettable loss to Portugal tonight in Lisbon.
super eagles 4:0 Portugal 🤣😂 God bless Nigeria pic.twitter.com/tBrO4ZQNmk
— Lhord Nyash of Africa (@nyash_lhord) November 17, 2022
The 4-0 thrashing in Portugal was the fourth loss for Nigeria under their Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.
It was a comfortable home win for Portugal without skipper Cristiano Ronaldo as they were hardly troubled by their guests inside a sold-out Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon.
The Eagles were disjointed, very short on confidence and in the end failed to compete against the ninth best team in the world.
Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes grabbed a brace with Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario also getting off the mark.
Nigeria could at least have got a consolation goal to give this loss some respectability, but Emmanuel Dennis lost the chance from the penalty spot in the 80th minute after he insisted on taking the spot kick even against the wishes of skipper William Ekong.
That wasted penalty paved the way for Portugal to get two late goals to put a gloss to an impressive World Cup sending-off party.
Bright Osayi-Samuel made his Eagles debut, but it was his handball inside the box that gave Portugal the chance to double their lead on 35 minutes from the penalty spot.
Portugal continued to create the better chances and even forced a big save from Uzoho in the 73rd minute, when he tipped a goal-bound effort for a corner.
The best chance for Nigeria fell to substitute Samuel Chukwueze in the 71st minute, but he was denied a goal by goalkeeper Rui Patricio, who made himself big to block out the final shot.
Super Eagles Starting XI vs Portugal – Uzoho – Bassey, Osayi-Samuel, Akpoguma, Ekong – Ndidi (Onyeka 46), Iwobi, Aribo (Etebo 69) – Moses Simon (Emmanuel Dennis 77), Moffi (Onuachu 58), Lookman (Chukwueze 46)
