Portugal defender Renato Veiga has revealed that the European giants could continue experimenting tactically when they face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in an international friendly on Wednesday night.
The encounter, scheduled for 8:45 pm at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria, will serve as Portugal’s final warm-up match ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has used recent friendly matches to test different tactical systems, player combinations and positional adjustments as the Selecao prepare for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the clash against Nigeria, Veiga admitted that Portugal are still working on tactical concepts and experimenting with ideas before the start of the World Cup.
When asked whether Portugal would continue testing solutions against the Super Eagles or move closer to their preferred World Cup setup, the versatile defender insisted the decision rests with Martinez.
“Honestly, I think that’s up to the manager,” Veiga said, as quoted by Ojogo. “These are preparation games for the next three games. These games serve to experiment and work on our concepts,” he added.
The comments suggest Portugal are unlikely to reveal their final tactical identity before the World Cup begins, with Martinez expected to continue assessing his squad depth and flexibility.
Portugal are widely regarded as one of the strongest squads heading into the World Cup, with experienced stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva expected to lead the team alongside emerging talents including Veiga.
Nigeria, meanwhile, will use the friendly as part of their preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers scheduled to begin in September.
The Super Eagles, under head coach Eric Chelle, are expected to approach the match with intensity as the Malian tactician continues assessing his squad ahead of the qualification campaign.
Wale Adejumo
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