Match preview: Nigeria vs Mozambique - Super Eagles look to cage the Mambas

• Nigeria and Mozambique are set to clash in a friendly match at the Estadio Municipal de Albufeira as both teams gear up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
• The two nations meet for the first time since 2010 when the Super Eagles dominated with a [3-0] victory in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Despite being massive underdogs, Mozambique will square up against Nigeria full of confidence.

The Mambas have avoided defeat in six of their last seven games, winning three and drawing three.

Only on Friday, Mozambique were held to a [1-1] draw by Angola to build on their hard-fought [3-2] win over Benin in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last month. That victory over the Beninoise secured a spot for Mozambique at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

However, against Nigeria, Mozambique will face a tough challenge against a Nigerian team that boasts a strong recent record, having won three of their last four matches.

The Super Eagles defeated Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Sao Tome and Principe on the bounce before that draw with Saudi Arabia at the Estadio Municipal De Portimao.

While Nigeria's results in 2023 have been impressive, the Super Eagles' record in friendly games has been horrible.

The three-time African champions are grappling with a 15-game winless streak in friendly matches, their last triumph dating back to March 2019.

The most recent of those matches came on Friday when Nigeria were forced to a [2-2] draw with Saudi Arabia.

After falling behind on the hour mark, the Super Eagles responded brilliantly first through an own goal forced by Victor Boniface and eight minutes later via a fine strike by Kelechi Iheanacho.

However, Saudi Arabia struck late through a reflected freekick to earn a share of the spoils.

Unfortunately, Victor Osimhen picked a knock in the second half of that fixture and is ruled out of the game against Mozambique.

Iheanacho is also unavailable for Monday's game as he has left camp for personal reasons.

Despite the absence of Osimhen and Iheanacho, head coach Jose Peseiro can still count on the talents of Boniface, Terem Moffi, and Umar Sadiq.

A win for the Super Eagles will set them well ahead of next month's 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe.

Nigeria will, after that, turn their attention to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, where they have been drawn alongside Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, and hosts Ivory Coast in Group A.