Portugal defender Nélson Semedo believes Wednesday's friendly against Nigeria will provide the ideal opportunity for manager Roberto Martínez to experiment with new ideas and tactical approaches ahead of their 2026 World Cup campaign.
Semedo played the entirety of the first half as Portugal defeated South American opponents Chile 2-1 on Saturday evening, with Gonçalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes getting their names on the scoresheet.
Portugal are continuing to fine-tune their preparations for the 2026 World Cup , with Martínez keen to assess different combinations and tactical adjustments before their opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The friendly against the Super Eagles is expected to offer another valuable test for the European side, allowing Martínez to evaluate players in different roles.
"Of course, that's what games are for. We have a game against Nigeria now, and this serves as an opportunity to work on new dynamics,” Semedo told RTP, via Record.
"We are professionals, and I believe we can follow the coach's ideas, whatever they may be."
Wednesday's friendly between Portugal and Nigeria will take place at Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, with kickoff scheduled for 2045 hours.
The Super Eagles' impressive form has seen them avoid defeat in their last 11 matches in regulation time, with eight victories and three stalemates.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Photo credit: fpf.pt
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