SUPER EAGLES TO PLAY SAUDI ARABIA IN FRIENDLY NEXT MONTH

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Nigeria and Saudi Arabia will clash in a senior international friendly match in Portugal on Friday, 13th October 2023.

The clash comes barely a month before the three-time African champions, who lashed Sao Tome and Principe 6-0 in their 2023 AFCON final-day qualification game in Uyo on Sunday, set out on the race for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

The Super Eagles will begin their World Cup qualifying schedule in November with games against Lesotho on home soil on the 13th and away to Zimbabwe seven days later.

And in preparation for those crucial matches, the Nigerian Football Federation has arranged the friendly match with Saudi Arabia next month.

The match will be played at the 10,000-capacity Estadio Municipal de Portimão in the Algarve, the home of Portugal Primeira Liga side Portimonense S.C.

Rated as the 54th-best nation on the FIFA ranking, Saudi Arabia are considered one of Asia’s most successful national teams.

The Green Falcons reached the final of the FIFA Confederations Cup in 1992 and have won the Arab Cup twice.

They are coached by former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, who led Italy to lift the UEFA European Championship in 2020.

Nigeria, placed in the 39th position on the FIFA ranking will however be slight favourites to come out of successful in a clash with Saudi Arabia..