Portugal's national football team head coach, Roberto Martínez, has officially announced that FC Porto's elite shot-stopper, Diogo Costa, will feature for the entire 90 minutes of their highly anticipated international friendly match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Wednesday evening.
The 26-year-old goalkeeper, who boasts 42 international caps and played every single minute of Portugal's grueling World Cup qualifying campaign, remains the undisputed first-choice number one for the Seleção.
However, Costa had been sidelined for Portugal's last three consecutive fixtures after suffering a troublesome adductor injury that kept him out of games against Mexico and the United States, before serving as an unused substitute during Sunday's clash against Chile.
Speaking to prominent Portuguese sports publication A Bola ahead of the encounter, Martínez emphasized that while the team intends to implement extensive squad rotations to evaluate bench depth and manage workloads, Costa's position in goal is fully assured for the entire match.
The strategic friendly serves as Portugal's final tactical simulation before the squad boards their flight to Miami for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Martínez noted that Nigeria presents a physical, challenging test highly similar to what his team anticipates against their group stage opponents, the Democratic Republic of Congo, offering a perfect environment to iron out tactical wrinkles.
The selection marks a personal milestone for Costa, who sat on the bench the last time both nations met, watching veteran keeper Rui Patrício start instead.
#PortugalVsNigeria #DiogoCosta #RobertoMartinez #SuperEagles #WorldCup2026 #InternationalFriendly #FCPorto #SelecaoPortugal
Published by Qubes Magazine
Founder & Editor-in-Chief: Okwudili Onyido
Stay informed and ahead with breaking news, entertainment, and exclusive updates from Qubes Magazine—your trusted source for digital journalism.
Contact: info@qubesmagazine.com.ng
© 2026 Qubes Magazine. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from the publisher.
Post a Comment