Preview: Saudi Arabia vs. Nigeria – prediction, team news, lineups – Sports Mole
Currently on a contrasting run of results, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria will go head-to-head in an international friendly matchup at Estadio Municipal de Portimao on Friday evening.
Saudi Arabia will be looking to avoid a seventh consecutive defeat, while their African counterparts go in search of a fourth win on the bounce.
Nigeria wrapped up their AFCON qualifying campaign with an emphatic 6-0 victory over Sao Tome & Principe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 10.
Victor Osimhen was the star of the show for Jose Peseiro‘s men as he netted a hat-trick, with Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze all getting in on the act.
Consequently, the Super Eagles have now come out on top in each of their last three outings by a combined score of 10-2 since losing to Guinea-Bissau in March.
Next up is the challenge of an opposing outfit who showed great mettle to hold out for a goalless stalemate in the only previous edition of this fixture 13 years ago.
In the first two straight friendlies before their World Cup qualifiers get underway, Nigeria will be keen to continue their recent upturn in form.
Saudi Arabia came away empty-handed from a sixth game running owing to a 1-0 defeat against South Korea at St. James’ Park on September 12.
Cho Gue-Sung broke the deadlock just past the half-hour mark and that proved to be enough to put Roberto Mancini‘s men to the sword on Tyneside.
Since beating Yemen in their opening Gulf Cup of Nations fixture earlier this year, the Green Falcons have lost all of their subsequent games across all competitions.
This has been largely down to Saudi Arabia’s attacking woes, as they have only managed four goals from their most recent six outings heading into Friday’s contest.
Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari has been directly involved in seven goals in nine league matches at club level this term, making him one to keep an eye on.
Twenty-one-year-old Eid Al-Muwallad is in line to record his first international cap having been recently handed his maiden call-up to the senior team.
Victor Osimhen’s treble last time out took him up to 20 goals for Nigeria, and the Napoli striker sits third in his nation’s all-time scoring charts.
With Taiwo Awoniyi currently sidelined, Victor Okoh Boniface could be in line to make his full international debut after coming off the bench against Sao Tome.
Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup:
Al-Owais; Al-Shahrani, Al-Tambakti, Al-Boleahi, Al-Ghannam; Kanno, Al-Khaibari, N. Al-Dawsari; S. Al-Dawsari, Al-Hamdan, Al-Shehri
Nigeria possible starting lineup:
Uzoho; Osayi-Samuel, Bassey, Ebuehi, Torunarigha; Ndidi, Iwobi, Iheanacho, Lookman; Osimhen, Boniface
The Super Eagles boast a plethora of attacking options and could potentially run riot against a Saudi defence who have struggled for clean sheets in recent months. We are backing Nigeria to come out on top at the end of the 90 minutes here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
