Ronaldo’s misses, Zaidu’s mistakes and other takeaways from Nigeria’s loss to Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal sealed a 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Leiria, but the scoreline didn’t reflect the spectacle on display, Soccernet.ng reports.

Facing a Portugal team packed with world-class talent and preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles showed resilience, created problems for Roberto Martinez’s men, and at times looked capable of springing a surprise.

Akor Adams’ first-half equaliser cancelled out Pedro Neto’s opener before Francisco Conceicao struck the winner in the second half to hand the hosts victory.

Despite the loss, there were several talking points for Chelle to reflect on ahead of AFCON 2027 qualification.

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Takeaways from Nigeria’s loss to Portugal

1. Cristiano Ronaldo’s poor finishing

The Portuguese legend entered the game looking to sharpen his form ahead of a sixth FIFA World Cup appearance, but Nigeria’s defence restricted him to a largely frustrating evening.

Ronaldo missed several clear opportunities, including an early one-on-one chance against Maduka Okoye, before eventually being substituted midway through the second half without finding the net.

Had the Real Madrid legend put on his goalscoring boots on the night, he could’ve easily scored a hat-trick against Eric Chelle’s side, making the final score more damning.

2. Akor Adams took his opportunity

The Sevilla striker grabbed Nigeria’s equaliser after capitalising on a defensive lapse from Portugal and once again demonstrated his importance under Chelle.

With Victor Osimhen remaining Nigeria’s undisputed first-choice striker, competition for the supporting roles is fierce.

Adams has shown he’s capable of playing as a lone striker or as a partner with the Galatasaray forward in Chelle’s front-two system.

3. Zaidu Sanusi’s errors surface, again

The left-back’s introduction brought experience, but also some uncomfortable moments.

Zaidu was involved in defensive situations that exposed Nigeria’s vulnerability down the left flank, while his decision-making in possession put the team under unnecessary pressure.

This comes a week after he was responsible for a dangerous backpass situation against Poland that nearly gifted Robert Lewandowski a goal.

The Porto defender remains one of Nigeria’s most experienced full-backs, but with Bruno Onyemaechi’s starting spot pretty much guaranteed, it might be time for Eric Chelle to scout a new left-back.

4. Nigeria can compete with elite nations

Perhaps the most important takeaway was that the Super Eagles did not look overwhelmed.

Portugal dominated possession and created more chances, but Nigeria remained competitive throughout the contest, finishing with seven attempts of their own and regularly threatening on transitions.

Considering Portugal are among the favourites for the World Cup and fielded stars such as Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Ruben Dias and Ronaldo, there was no disgrace in the result.

The defeat will sting, but Chelle can leave Portugal encouraged by the character his team showed.

Nigeria may have missed out on the 2026 World Cup, but performances against Poland and Portugal suggest the foundations for a stronger future are beginning to take shape.

5. Alex Iwobi’s century marks a remarkable achievement

Amid the disappointment of defeat, there was still a significant milestone worth celebrating.

Alex Iwobi earned his 100th cap for Nigeria, becoming one of the four players in the country’s history to reach the landmark.

The Fulham midfielder has often divided opinion throughout his international career, but his longevity, consistency, and commitment to the national team deserve recognition.

From making his debut under Sunday Oliseh in 2015 to becoming one of the senior leaders in the current squad, Iwobi has remained a constant presence across multiple generations of Super Eagles players.

His century of appearances underlines his importance to Nigerian football.