Chelle says Super Eagles are prepared for Portugal showdown.

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle said the upcoming friendly against Portugal offers his side a chance to test themselves against one of the world’s top teams.

The match will take place at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on Wednesday.

It will be Portugal’s last friendly before heading to Miami for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With a squad that includes many of the world’s best players, Portugal is expected to be a formidable opponent for the Super Eagles, who have remained unbeaten in their last six matches.

Chelle added that facing a potential world‑champion side would provide valuable experience for his team.

“We play against a big team. Normally, this team can be the next world champions. There are many big players in the team, so we are very happy to have this chance to play against them. This is a big game for them and for us,” Éric Chelle said at the pre‑match press conference.

The Super Eagles were defeated 4‑0 by Portugal in their first meeting in 2022.

Chelle emphasized that his focus is not on past results.

“Now I have to stay focused on my players, on the philosophy and the way we want to play this game. This is not a question about the result. We played three years ago and we lost. This is not a question about that,” the Malian coach added.