The Super Eagles will face Poland and Portugal in international friendlies in June as part of preparations for upcoming global competitions, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said.

A statement by NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, in Abuja yesterday confirmed the high-profile fixtures and described them as crucial tests for the team.

Olajire said the matches would help the technical crew assess the squad against top European opposition.

“These fixtures are very important for us as a team seeking to build momentum and cohesion ahead of major competitions,” he said.

He added that the games would also provide an opportunity to test new players and tactical approaches.

“Playing against Poland and Portugal offers us the chance to measure our strength against quality sides and make necessary adjustments,” Olajire said.

Fresh from defeating FIFA World Cup-bound Iran and drawing with Jordan in Antalya, Turkey, Nigeria are looking forward to an exciting summer of football.

The three-time African champions aim to build on recent performances as they intensify preparations for future tournaments.

NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, said the match against Poland will be played at the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw on June 3.

He added that the game against Portugal will take place on June 10 at a venue to be announced later.

Olajire expressed confidence that the fixtures would boost the team’s readiness.

“We are confident that these matches will sharpen the team and position us strongly for the challenges ahead,” he said.

The encounter with Portugal will serve as the hosts’ final game before travelling for the FIFA World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Nigeria are also scheduled to defend their title at the Unity Cup Tournament in London from May 26 to May 30.

Swiatek Appoints Former Coach of Nadal, Raducanu

Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek will work with Francisco Roig – the former coach of Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu – as she looks to turn around her inconsistent form.

Poland’s Swiatek has struggled to find her rhythm in 2026, exiting the Australian Open and Indian Wells at the quarter-final stage.

The 24-year-old tends to perform better on clay, having won four of her six Grand Slam titles at the French Open, and has drafted in Roig in preparation for next month’s event in Paris.

Swiatek confirmed the partnership on Instagram, writing “welcome to the team, Francisco! Very excited for this new chapter”.

Spain’s Roig coached Briton Raducanu for five months between 2025 and 2026, but is best known for his 17-year stint with 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal.

World number four Swiatek had been working under Wim Fissette, who helped her win a first Wimbledon title in July, but they parted ways after Swiatek’s first-round loss at the Miami Open in March.

Swiatek experienced immense highs alongside Fissette, with her triumph at SW19 the pinnacle, but also endured serious lows, including being ‘bageled’ – losing a set to love – in her quarter-final defeat by Aryna Sabalenka at last year’s French Open.

Feliciano Lopez and Matteo Berrettini are among the other names to have spent time with Roig.

Lopez said Roig achieves the best results by using unique coaching drills, which are “practical” and “specific”, with his players.

It is said the 58-year-old identifies technical issues by observation, rather than relying on forensic video analysis.

Swiatek began working with Roig at Nadal’s academy in Manacor, Spain, as she shifted her attention to the clay-court season.

Davies Back in Wales Squad as Clark Misses Out

Manchester City teenager Mayzee Davies is back in the Wales squad for this month’s World Cup qualifying double-header against Albania, but there is no place for injured goalkeeper Olivia Clark.

Defender Davies has not appeared for her country since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while on Wales duty 11 months ago.

The 19-year-old has been recalled after returning to action for Manchester City’s under-21 side this week, though Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson says she is unlikely to play in this camp as a result of her long lay-off.

“We don’t want to put that pressure on at this point but to have her back with the squad I think is really important,” Wikinson said.

Wales will have to cope without Leicester City’s Clark, who has not played since picking up a lower leg injury while training with her country last month.

In the absence of 35-cap Clark, Wilkinson has handed a first senior call-up to Llantrisant-born Lucy Farrell-Shrouder, 22, who is on loan at Stoke City from Burnley.

Wales face Albania at Wrexham’s Stoke Cae Ras on Tuesday, 14 April (19:15 BST) before travelling for the return fixture at the Elbasan Arena in Elbasan four days later (17:00 BST).

Wilkinson says Clark’s injury is not serious, though it does leave Manchester United’s Safia Middleton-Patel as the only goalkeeper in this Wales squad who has played a senior international.

Wilkinson has regularly rotated her two senior keepers, but says eight-cap Middleton-Patel will feature in both Albania games.

“She will come in as our number one and that’s an opportunity for her,” Wilkinson said.

“Liv’s not here and that does not mean she’s out sight out of mind. She is absolutely still in there in the running [to be first-choice keeper], but I am looking forward to seeing what Saf can do for us.

Farrell-Shrouder, Poppy Soper, Annie Wilding and Phoebie Poole are the four uncapped players in the squad, while Gwen Zimmerman, Olivia Francis and Mary McAteer are not included having been involved in the previous camp.

Wilkinson’s side began their bid to secure a place at the 2027 World Cup with an away draw against the Czech Republic – who are expected to be their main rivals to top Group B1 – and a comprehensive home victory over Montenegro.

With no automatic route to the tournament available to League B sides, Wales hope to finish first in the group because that would secure a more favourable play-off route to the tournament, which is being staged in Brazil.

Davies had been on course to feature at Euro 2025 until she suffered the ACL injury during Wales’ Nations League defeat in Denmark last May.

The Bodelwyddan-born player was winning her sixth cap against the Danes having been given her senior debut by Wilkinson in Kosovo two years ago.

Davies first joined Manchester City at the age of 10, then returned to the club in 2024 after a brief spell at Manchester United.

She was named Wales’ player of the match having made her first international start in the defeat in Italy 14 months ago.

After that game, Wilkinson suggested Davies had the quality to win more than a century of caps for her country.

Wilkinson did not completely rule out the idea of Davies featuring in one of the two Albania games, saying: “I won’t say never because we haven’t had our eyes across her, but she is coming in as a training player and not as part of the 23.

“She’s been working hard. We’ve been in touch with her, just sort of making sure she’s feeling seen during a long process.

“I think she’s played some minutes for some of the younger [Manchester City] squads but she’s now starting to be more full-time with the senior team and back to full training.”

Liverpool Striker Isak Returns to training, Coach Confirms

Alexander Isak will return to team training on Thursday, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has confirmed.

Club record £125m signing Isak has been ruled out since December, having fractured his leg and had ankle surgery.

The 26-year-old Sweden striker managed 16 appearances and scored three goals for the Reds before his injury against Tottenham.

“I think Alex is in a really good place because Sweden qualified for the World Cup and, apart from that, he’s going to train with the group again for the first time tomorrow,” Slot told the club’s website.

“If you’ve worked so hard for three, four months or something like that and then to return to team training, that’s for everyone very nice. So Alex is, in that sense, in a good place.”

Liverpool are preparing to face Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at Etihad Stadium on Saturday (12:45 BST).

The Reds signed Isak from Newcastle United for a British record transfer fee in September.

He had surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture, sustained following a challenge by Micky van de Ven as he scored against Spurs in a 2-1 win on 20 December.