More Than Just “Warm-Ups”: The Super Eagles in Friendly Matches

For the average Nigerian football fan, there is no such thing as a “friendly” match. whether we are playing Brazil in Singapore or playing a “low-key” game against Corsica. We want to win. We want to brag. And most importantly, we want to move up the FIFA Rankings.

International friendly matches have been the testing ground for our Golden Generations. It is where coaches like Westerhof, Keshi, and Peseiro discovered new talents. It is where we learned that we could stand toe-to-toe with World Champions.

Here is the complete review of the Super Eagles’ history in international friendlies—the shocks, the “Grade A” battles, and the moments that broke the internet.

The “Grade A” Obsession: Battling the World’s Best

Nigerians always demand “Grade A” friendlies. We don’t want to play teams we can beat 5-0; we want to test ourselves against the giants. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) knows that to be the best, you must play the best.

Over the years, we have secured high-profile friendlies against football royalty like Brazil, England, Italy, and Argentina. These matches are usually played in neutral venues like London or the USA, with ticket prices costing a few months’ salary for the average fan back home—but the stadiums are always packed with Naija flags.

The Argentina “Love Affair” (Krasnodar 2017)

If the World Cup is our official battleground with Argentina, then friendly matches are where we get our revenge.

The most iconic friendly in recent memory happened on November 14, 2017, in Krasnodar, Russia.

• The Scenario: We were down 2-0. Fans on Twitter were already typing their angry rants.
• The Comeback: Kelechi Iheanacho scored a stunning free-kick. Then, Alex Iwobi and Brian Idowu turned the game on its head. Iwobi’s second goal—a nutmeg followed by a cool finish—remains one of the coldest moments in our history.
• The Result: Nigeria 4 – 2 Argentina.
• The Aftermath: We went into the 2018 World Cup with chests puffed out, knowing we could beat Messi and co (even though the World Cup match didn’t end well, we still have Krasnodar!).

Brazil: When We Stood Toe-to-Toe (2019)

Playing Brazil is the ultimate dream. We all remember the 1996 Olympic semi-final (which wasn’t a friendly, but set the tone), but in October 2019, we faced the Seleção in a proper friendly in Singapore.

Nobody gave us a chance against Neymar, Firmino, and Casemiro.

But Joe Aribo had other plans. He danced past the Brazilian defense to score the opener.

Although Casemiro equalized, the match ended 1-1.

Francis Uzoho was a wall that day until his unfortunate injury. That draw felt like a win. It proved that on our day, the Super Eagles are world-class.

The Wembley Experience: Nigeria vs. England (2018)

Leading up to the 2018 World Cup, we played England at the legendary Wembley Stadium.

The hype was insane. The “Naija” Nike collection had just dropped, and London was turned Green and White.

• First Half: We were asleep. Cahill and Kane scored. 2-0 down.
• Second Half: We woke up. Alex Iwobi (who loves scoring in big friendlies) pulled one back.
• The Result: We lost 2-1, but the second-half performance showed the fighting spirit we are known for. It was a “fashion show” in the stands, even if the result wasn’t perfect.

Why Friendly Matches Matter for SEO (Stats & Rankings)

You might ask, “Why stress over a game with no trophy?”

Two words: FIFA Rankings.

Winning friendly matches gives us points that help us:

1. Climb the FIFA Ranking: A higher ranking means we avoid big teams in qualifiers (Pot 1 vs Pot 2).
2. Player Permits: For our players moving to leagues like the English Premier League, a high national team ranking makes getting a work permit easier.

The “Jollof” Derbies: Friendlies That Are Never Friendly

There are some teams we cannot play a “friendly” with. The tension is too high.

• Ghana: Even a charity match against the Black Stars is war. The “Jollof War” extends to the pitch.
• Cameroon: Our neighbors to the East. Any match against the Indomitable Lions is physical and intense.
• South Africa: Recently, the rivalry has grown. Bafana Bafana wants to prove a point, and we want to remind them who “Big Brother” is.

Memorable Friendly Results (At a Glance)

Here is a quick table of some of our most talked-about friendly results in the last two decades:

Date	Opponent	Result	Key Player/Moment
Nov 2017	Argentina	Won 4-2	Iwobi’s brace & nutmeg
Oct 2019	Brazil	Drew 1-1	Aribo’s solo goal
June 2018	England	Lost 1-2	Iwobi’s goal at Wembley
Mar 2015	South Africa	Drew 1-1	Ahmed Musa’s late equalizer
June 2022	Mexico	Lost 1-2	Cyriel Dessers’ goal
Oct 2023	Saudi Arabia	Drew 2-2	Iheanacho’s “Senior Man” goal

The Future: Using Friendlies to Build the 2026 Squad

As we look toward the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada, friendly matches will be crucial.

Coaches use these games to test foreign-born players (the “Diaspora talents”) and see if they can handle the heat of African football.

Whether it is a rainy night in Benin City or a glitzy stadium in Dallas, friendly matches are where the team bonds. They share “gist,” eat togetherness, and build the chemistry needed to conquer Africa.

So, next time the NFF announces a friendly against a team you have never heard of, don’t hiss. Watch it. That unknown player making his debut might just be the next Jay-Jay Okocha.