Super Eagles vs Saudi Arabia: Peseiro targets victory against former side

Friday night's friendly match in the Portuguese city of Portimao between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia promises to be exciting.

Nigeria has won the African championship three times, and Saudi Arabia has won the Asian championship three times.

The only previous encounter between the two nations took place in Europe and was also a friendly game.

The Super Eagles were making their final preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa when they played that scoreless match on May 25, 2010, in Wattens, Austria.

13 years ago, the Super Eagles were ranked 21st in the world, while the Green Falcons were ranked 66th, as both teams lined up in the Alpenstadion that evening.

The Falcons are currently ranked 57th in the world, while the Super Eagles are currently ranked 40th.

For Friday's encounter, Head Coach Jose Peseiro, who coached Saudi Arabia that evening in Austria 13 years ago but is now in charge of Nigeria, will have exciting talents Bright Osayi-Samuel, Jordan Torunarigha, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi, Raphael Onyedika, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Terem Moffi, Victor Boniface, Samuel Chukwueze, Sadiq Umar and of course FIFA Ballon d'Or Dozen-Shortlist member, Victor Osimhen, at his disposal.

There are also seasoned defenders Semi Ajayi, Chidozie Awaziem, Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Joseph Ayodele-Aribo, and Alex Iwobi, as well as forwards Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho, who are all happy to echo the phrase "Let's Do It Again."

While injured forward Taiwo Awoniyi of Nottingham Forest in England will undoubtedly be missed, Peseiro has the option of either starting Victor Boniface or evaluating what Terem Moffi, a French ravemaker, can actually bring.

Moffi was in Peseiro's first roll of the dice with the Eagles in the friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador in the USA last summer.

Moffi then scored as the Eagles marched on Sao Tome and Principe to set an international scoreline in an AFCON 2023 qualifying match in Agadir, Morocco a few days later.

The competition for Nigeria's number one jersey between Maduka Okoye and Francis Uzoho has resumed with Maduka Okoye's recall, and both goalies are aware that only the best will hold the gloves throughout the AFCON early next year and the World Cup qualifiers later this month.