Samson Tijani proud of Super Eagles’ performance despite defeat to Portugal

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/nigeria-EBE2Xb3l/portugal-WvJrjFVN/?mid=COGgSqom"]The three-time African champions suffered a 2-1 defeat[/a] to the Europeans in the keenly contested friendly played on Wednesday evening at the Estadio Dr Magalhaes Pessoa.[/p][p]With the fixture heading for a draw after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/adams-akor/nks9eiQ4/"]Akor Adams[/a] had cancelled out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/neto-pedro/lxtnUkIP/"]Pedro Neto[/a]’s opener, super-sub [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chico-conceicao/n53v4sSd/"]Francisco Conceicao[/a] got the winner with 15 minutes left on the clock.[/p][p]Profiting from an assist from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cancelo-joao/dAyeWYpm/"]Joao Cancelo[/a], the Juventus man drilled a low shot past goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/okoye-maduks/Gr6T6rIt/"]Maduka Okoye[/a], who had an awe-inspiring performance in Leiria.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tijani-samson/GjhyxN66/"]Tijani[/a], who missed the fixture due to visa issues, believes Eric Chelle’s men gave a good account of themselves, while insisting the team demonstrated progress.[/p][embed guid="140f4332-e51c-47ed-8079-39fd524b1ccc" url="https://x.com/NGSuperEagles/status/2065021461857796275" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"We can be proud of the way we played because I know many people never gave us a chance against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a]. Of course, nobody likes to lose, but there were plenty of positives to take from our performance,"[/b] Tijani told Flashscore.com.[/p][p][b]"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.[/b][/p][p]"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. [/p][p][b]"We are a team still in progress, and there are many lessons and positives to take from this defeat.[/b][/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="8d58f742-10b8-4d6d-8382-5ff2b3c5cd23" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="fd8ccc1a-505d-43b8-8711-4b06d61c52e8" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Having missed out on qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the three-time African champions have now shifted their focus to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.[/p][p]They will battle [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/guinea-bissau/0rJs9H8F/"]Guinea-Bissau[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tanzania/KzAbFwJ7/"]Tanzania[/a], and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/madagascar/88OzY9OB/"]Madagascar[/a] for a place at the continent's biggest football tournament. [/p][p]The former Nigeria U17 captain believes the recent international fixtures have provided the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nigeria/EBE2Xb3l/"]Super Eagles[/a] with the ideal platform to prepare for the challenges ahead, insisting the team has taken valuable lessons from the disappointment of failing to secure a World Cup ticket.[/p][p][b]"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," [/b]Tijani continued.[/p][p][b] "Every game we have played recently has helped us grow as a team and have shown that we are moving in the right direction. [/b][/p][p][b]"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."[/b][/p][p]Nigeria's next fixture is [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/madagascar-88OzY9OB/nigeria-EBE2Xb3l/?mid=dS6bdM1S"]against Madagascar on September 23rd[/a] in a 2027 AFCON qualifier. The Super Eagles will then travel to Guinea-Bissau four days later for their second qualifying match as they begin their quest to secure a place at the continental showpiece.[/p][image alt="Author" id="77f4edee-493b-45e2-b24b-0d9a1e05766a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="cdeb7982-30c0-42bb-9844-61cc4902bea0" original-width="1200" original-height="381" /]