Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has downplayed Nigeria’s victory over Poland in 2018, insisting that past results will count for little when both sides meet again in Wednesday’s international friendly at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw.
The last meeting between both nations came in March 2018, when Nigeria edged the European side 1–0 in a pre-World Cup friendly in Wrocław.
The Super Eagles secured the win courtesy of a second-half penalty from Victor Moses.
Reflecting on that encounter during his pre-match press conference, Ndidi acknowledged the significance of the victory but stressed that both teams have since moved on.
"I remember it was a great match in an incredible atmosphere, and we won. But that was eight years ago,” Ndidi said via przegladsportowy.
“What matters now is what happens tomorrow, how well we've prepared, how motivated we are. Of course, it's about winning, but development is also important.”
The Besiktas midfielder added that facing a strong European opponent remains a valuable test for the team’s long-term progress
“The match against a top opponent like Poland will be a good test of our vision for the future," Ndidi concluded.
However, the situation is different ahead of the encounter, as both nations have failed to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria missed out on a place at the tournament after suffering a playoff defeat to DR Congo in Morocco in November 2025.
Similarly, Poland will also be absent from the global showpiece after falling to Sweden in the World Cup playoffs in March 2026.
Adeyemi Adewale
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