Sanusi Super Eagles Portugal Defeat reaction as Zaidu Sanusi praises Nigeria’s performance despite narrow 2-1 friendly loss to Portugal

Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi has praised Nigeria’s spirited performance despite a narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal in an international friendly played at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa on Wednesday night.

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Reaction came from Sanusi Super Eagles Portugal defeat rafter the three-time African champions showed significant improvement against Roberto Martinez’s side, compared to their previous 4-0 loss to the same opponents four years ago.

Nigeria, under head coach Éric Chelle, delivered a more composed and competitive display, particularly in the first half, where they disrupted Portugal’s rhythm and created several scoring opportunities.

Pedro Neto gave the hosts the lead midway through the first half before Nigeria responded through Akor Adams, who levelled the match in the 37th minute to restore balance to the contest.

Portugal eventually secured victory in the second half through Francisco Conceicao, but Nigeria’s overall performance drew praise from within the squad.

Sanusi, who plays his club football in Portugal with FC Porto, said the team showed resilience and tactical discipline, especially in the opening period of the match.

“The first half was very difficult for us, but we managed to control it a bit. Portugal is very strong,” Sanusi said after the game.

Defeat reflection highlighted what he described as progress in Nigeria’s performance levels, noting the reduced margin of defeat compared to previous encounters.

Despite the result, the 28-year-old defender expressed optimism and goodwill towards Portugal ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying he would be supporting his club-based colleagues during the tournament.

Sanusi added that while he could not predict how far Portugal might go in the competition, he wished them success as they prepare for the global showpiece.

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The Super Eagles will now turn their attention to future international fixtures as they continue preparations for upcoming competitive engagements.