Roberto Martínez confirms Diogo Costa full match plan against Nigeria, with Portugal rotating squad in friendly ahead of World Cup preparations

Portugal national team head coach Roberto Martínez, speaking on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Portugal, has confirmed that goalkeeper Diogo Costa will play the full 90 minutes in their international friendly against Nigeria, outlining a Diogo Costa full match plan as part of the team’s broader squad rotation strategy ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

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Martínez stated that while Portugal will rotate several players during the match against the Super Eagles to manage workload and assess squad depth, Costa’s position as first-choice goalkeeper remains unchanged for the encounter.

The 26-year-old Porto shot-stopper, who has made 42 international appearances, has been Portugal’s undisputed number one in recent competitive fixtures, playing every minute of their World Cup qualifying campaign.

However, Costa has had a disrupted recent schedule after missing Portugal’s last three matches due to an adductor injury.

He was unavailable for games against Mexico and the United States and was later named an unused substitute in the match against Chile on Sunday, June 6.

Martínez emphasised that the friendly against Nigeria provides an opportunity to test tactical variations and manage player fitness, describing the fixture as an important preparatory step ahead of the team’s travel schedule for the World Cup in Miami.

He said Portugal’s approach remains competitive despite planned rotations, noting that the match also offers a chance to evaluate areas of improvement against a physically strong opponent.

“We aim to win,” Martínez said, adding that adjustments would be made throughout the game while maintaining Costa’s full participation in goal.

Costa was part of Portugal’s squad in their previous meeting with Nigeria but did not feature, with Rui Patrício selected to start on that occasion.

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The confirmation of the Diogo Costa full match plan underscores Portugal’s intention to balance preparation, fitness management and competitive readiness as they build towards the World Cup.