Ronaldo-less Portugal Thrash Nigeria 4-0 In Friendly

Senegal star Sadio Mane has lost his race to be fit for the 2022 World Cup and has been withdrawn from their squad, the country’s football federation announced on Thursday.

Mane was voted second in the Ballon d’Or last month behind Karim Benzema and the 30-year-old Bayern Munich forward will be sorely missed by the African champions.

The emblematic Mane scored the winning penalty in a shootout victory against Egypt in the African Cup of Nations final and repeated the feat

Nigeria ‘s Super Eagles of Nigeria suffered a 4-0 defeat to Portugal in their first ever friendly match at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Thursday.

José Peseiro had led the Eagles to four friendly games and has not won any, losing 2-1 to Mexico, 1-0 to Ecuador, 2-1 to Algeria, and 2-0 to Costa Rica.

The Portuguese was finally appointed the coach of the Super Eagles in May after Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.

Since assuming the position, Peseiro has struggled to rebuild the team which dashed the hopes of their supporters in Abuja.

During the face off with Portugal, a brilliant combination of Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes extended Peseiro’s loss.

Fernandez opened the score line against the same opponents to qualify the Lions of Teranga for the World Cup.

Mane picked up his shin injury playing for Bayern earlier this month but was named in the World Cup squad in the hope he could regain fitness.

But on Thursday Senegal said the former Liverpool star would not make it.

“Unfortunately, today’s (Thursday) MRI shows us that the improvement is not as favourable as we imagined just 9 minutes into the game, while Bright Osayi-Samuel of Nigeria conceded a penalty with a handball in the 18-yard box.

Fernandes converted the penalty with a right-footed shot to make it 2-0.

Bright Osayi-Samuel was awarded a foul in the penalty area, but Emmanuel Denis lost the penalty after an argument with other players including Samuel Chukwueze over who should take the kick.

Portugal scored their third in the 82nd minute after Nigeria lost their chance.Gonçalo Ramos’s right-footed shot from the centre of the box performed the magic for the Portuguese.

Portugal who were without captain Ronaldo made it four two minutes later courtesy of João Mário shot from the centre box. and unfortunately we have to withdraw Sadio from the World Cup,” said team doctor, Manuel Afonso in a video on the official Senegal Twitter account.

Senegal had hoped their talisman would be fit in time for their opening game on 21 November against the Netherlands.

They will also take on hosts Qatar and Ecuador in Group A.