Izuchukwu OkosiThe Super Eagles of Nigeria on Thursday night suffered a 4-0 defeat by Portugal without Cristiano Ronaldo in an international friendly game at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon reports Prime Business Africa.
Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro started a back four that featured William Troost-Ekong, Kevin Akpoguma, Calvin Bassey, and new boy Osayi Samuel in the team’s last outing for the calendar year 2022.
Joe Aribo, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi played in the midfield while Moses Simon and Ademola Lookman lined on either side of Terem Moffi up front.
Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes put Portugal infront after just nine minutes into the game with an easy poke from close range.
Fernandes doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 35th minute after debutant, Bright Osayi-Samuel was adjudged to have handled the ball as he inadvertently tried to defend against a cross into the box.
READ ALSO: Peseiro Recalls Ndidi, Osimhen, Etebo, Onuachu In Nigeria’s Squad For Portugal Friendly
Peseiro made a raft of changes in the second half as Frank Onyeka came on for Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze replaced Lookman, Oghenekaro Etebo came on for Joe Aribo while Paul Onuachu came in for Moffi.
The Eagles a chance to put one back in the second half, after Dalot fouled Osayi-Samuel in the box, but Nottingham Forest striker Emmanuel Dennis failed to convert from the spot.
The Nigerian players aegied over who would take the penalty kick but it was Dennis that eventually stepped up.
Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario then scored two late goals for Portugal as the game ended 4-0.
Portugal will play Ghana, Uruguay and South Korea in the group stage of the World Cup while Nigeria will resume qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in March.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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