Samson Tijani proud of Super Eagles performance despite defeat to Portugal

The three-time African champions suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Europeans in a tightly contested friendly played on Wednesday evening at the Estadio Dr Magalhaes Pessoa.

With the match heading for a draw after Akor Adams had cancelled out Pedro Neto’s opener, super-sub Francisco Conceicao scored the winner with 15 minutes remaining.

Benefiting from an assist by Joao Cancelo, the Juventus player drilled a low shot past goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, who delivered an awe-inspiring performance in Leiria.

Tijani, who missed the match due to visa issues, believes Eric Chelle’s men gave a good account of themselves, while insisting the team showed progress.

"We can be proud of the way we played because I know many people never gave us a chance against Portugal. Of course, nobody likes to lose, but there were plenty of positives to take from our performance," Tijani told Flashscore.com.

"We showed character, fought for one another, and competed well against a very strong side that boasts some of the best players in the world and is widely regarded as one of the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"If you recall our last meeting with Portugal, we suffered a 4-0 defeat. This time, however, we demonstrated quality and a much improved level of performance, so I want to congratulate the entire team on their efforts. 

"We are a team still in progress, and there are many lessons and positives to take from this defeat.

"On a personal note, it is unfortunate that I could not be part of the squad due to logistical reasons, but overall, we have enjoyed a very productive international window, winning the Unity Cup and earning a draw against Poland."

Having missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the three-time African champions have now shifted their focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

They will battle Guinea-Bissau, Tanzania, and Madagascar for a place at the continent's biggest football tournament. 

The former Nigeria U17 captain believes the recent international fixtures have provided the Super Eagles with the ideal platform to prepare for the challenges ahead, insisting the team has taken valuable lessons from the disappointment of failing to secure a World Cup ticket.

"We have learnt a lot from missing out on the World Cup, and the most important thing now is to make sure we do not repeat those mistakes," Tijani continued.

 "Every game we have played recently has helped us grow as a team and has shown that we are moving in the right direction. 

"Results are important, but so is the progress we are making as a team. We have quality players, a good coaching staff, and the hunger to improve every day."

Nigeria's next fixture is against Madagascar on September 23rd in a 2027 AFCON qualifier. The Super Eagles will then travel to Guinea-Bissau four days later for their second qualifying match as they begin their quest to secure a place at the continental showpiece.