Super Eagles midfielder identifies major positive from Chelle’s Nigeria after Portugal test

Super Eagles midfielder Samson Tijani believes that Nigeria are moving in the right direction under Eric Chelle despite their narrow 2-1 defeat to Portugal, Afrik Foot reports.

The three-time African champions pushed one of the favourites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup all the way in Leiria before eventually falling to Francisco Conceicao’s second-half winner.

Akor Adams had cancelled out Pedro Neto’s opener to level proceedings, while Maduka Okoye produced a string of impressive saves to keep Nigeria in the contest.

Although the defeat extended Nigeria’s wait for a first victory over Portugal, Tijani believes the performance highlighted how much progress the team has made under Chelle compared to previous years.

The former Red Bull Salzburg midfielder, who was unavailable for selection due to visa issues, pointed to Nigeria’s dramatic improvement since their last meeting with Portugal in 2022.

Samson Tijani explains key progress under Eric Chelle

Nigeria’s last encounter against Portugal ended in a humiliating 4-0 defeat in Lisbon shortly before the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

This time, however, the Super Eagles went toe-to-toe with a side boasting the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo.

For Tijani, that difference reflects the growth of a team beginning to embrace Chelle’s ideas.

“We can be proud of the way we played because I know many people never gave us a chance against Portugal. Of course, nobody likes to lose, but there were plenty of positives to take from our performance,” Tijani told Flashscore.

“We showed character, fought for one another, and competed well against a very strong side that boasts some of the best players in the world and is widely regarded as one of the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Last Night in Leira 📷 pic.twitter.com/8fzGYVaoR9

— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) June 11, 2026

The 24-year-old reserved special praise for his teammates’ mentality, believing the squad demonstrated qualities that had been missing during difficult periods of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

“If you remember our last meeting with Portugal, we suffered a 4-0 defeat. This time, however, we demonstrated quality and a much-improved level of performance, so I want to congratulate the entire team on their efforts.

“We are a team still in progress, and there are many lessons and positives to take from this defeat.”

The former RB Salzburg midfielder also described the recent international window as a successful one for Nigeria, referencing the Unity Cup triumph and the 2-2 draw against Poland in Warsaw.

“On a personal note, it is unfortunate that I could not be part of the squad due to logistical reasons, but overall, we have enjoyed a very productive international window, winning the Unity Cup and earning a draw against Poland.”

Is Tijani right about Nigeria’s progress?

While missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains a painful setback, there are signs that the Super Eagles are gradually rebuilding under Chelle.

The Franco-Malian coach inherited a squad short on confidence after a chaotic qualifying campaign that featured multiple managerial changes and inconsistent performances.

A year after his appointment, Nigeria have shown greater tactical organisation and a clear playing identity, a feat that was lacking under Jose Peseiro and Finidi George.

Against Portugal, the Super Eagles remained compact throughout, created chances of their own, and avoided the mental and physical collapse that defined the previous meeting between the two nations.

Players such as Abdullahi Bewene, Tochukwu Nnadi, Emmanuel Fernandez, Arthur Okonkwo and Femi Azeez have also strengthened the squad depth available to Chelle heading into AFCON 2027 qualifiers.

Tijani believes the biggest lesson from the failed World Cup campaign is ensuring those mistakes are never repeated.

“We have learnt a lot from missing out on the World Cup, and the most important thing now is to make sure we don’t repeat those mistakes.

“Every game we have played recently has helped us grow as a team and have shown that we are moving in the right direction.

“Results are important, but so is the progress we are making as a team. We have quality players, a good coaching staff, and the hunger to improve every day,” the Dukla Praha midfielder concluded.

With Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau awaiting in September’s AFCON qualifiers, Nigeria’s immediate focus has shifted from World Cup disappointment to ensuring they remain on course for continental success.