Super Eagles Ready for Battle Against Portugal and Poland, Says Chelle

Éric Chelle has sent a strong message ahead of Nigeria’s high-profile international friendlies against Poland and Portugal, declaring that the Super Eagles are prepared to battle two of Europe’s toughest sides on their own turf.

The Super Eagles coach, speaking ahead of Nigeria’s June fixtures, vowed that his team would not travel to Europe merely to participate but to compete aggressively against world-class opposition.

“We will go there to fight. If we win, we win. If we lose, we lose. But if we lose, they will have to work for it,” Chelle said.

Nigeria will face Poland in Warsaw on June 3 before taking on Portugal in Leiria on June 10, in what are expected to be two major tests for Chelle’s evolving Super Eagles side.

The Franco-Malian tactician acknowledged the quality of both opponents, describing Poland as a strong World Cup-bound nation while labelling Portugal as arguably one of the best teams in international football today.

“Poland is a good team. They are going to the World Cup. Portugal may be the best team in the world. So this is a great challenge for us,” Chelle added.

Nigeria will head into the fixtures without several key stars, including Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, who have both been excused from international duty. Despite the absences, Chelle remains determined to use the matches as an opportunity to test his squad against elite opposition and continue building the team following their recent Unity Cup success.

The friendlies are also expected to provide valuable preparation for future international competitions as the Super Eagles continue their rebuilding process under the new coach.

Having recently guided Nigeria to Unity Cup glory, Chelle believes the challenge of facing two top European nations could help shape the team's identity and competitiveness moving forward.