Two countries who narrowly missed out on the 2026 World Cup meet on Wednesday (today) as Poland host Nigeria in an international friendly at the PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the World Cup for a second consecutive time after falling to DR Congo in the African playoffs final last November, while Poland were denied a place at the global tournament after losing to Sweden in the UEFA qualification play-offs.
Since missing out on the World Cup, the Super Eagles have begun a rebuilding process under coach Eric Chelle, finishing third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. They have also won three of their last four matches, scoring at least two goals in each of those games.
Poland, under Jan Urban, are also looking to bounce back from disappointment but head into this fixture on the back of a 2–0 defeat to Ukraine on Sunday in Wrocław, where first-half goals from Roman Yaremchuk and Andriy Yarmolenko proved decisive.
As a result, Poland have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last five matches, conceding at least two goals in three of those games. Head coach Urban will therefore be concerned about his side’s defensive stability.
Ahead of the Nigeria clash, the White-Reds are at risk of suffering three consecutive defeats for the first time in over three years. They have also not gone three matches without a win since a five-game winless run between September and November 2024.
However, Poland can take some encouragement from the fact that Sunday’s loss to Ukraine was their first friendly defeat since 2018. Nigeria were also responsible for one of their friendly defeats that year, winning 1–0 in March 2018.
Currently 26th in the FIFA rankings and nine place above Poland in 35th, the Super Eagles are unbeaten in five matches (W4, D1) since their penalty shootout loss to Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals earlier in the year. They went on to finish third in the competition after defeating Egypt in the third-place match.
The three-time AFCON champions head into Wednesday’s game on the back of a 3–0 win over Jamaica in the Unity Cup final, where an Alhassan Yusuf brace and a Terem Moffi goal secured victory.
Nigeria also hold a psychological edge from their only previous meeting with Poland, a 1–0 friendly win in 2018. However, they have managed just one win in eight matches (D2, L5) against European opposition since that victory.
Veteran striker Robert Lewandowski could once again lead the line for Poland as he looks to add to his 89 international goals.
Nigeria will be without key forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman for the match and the upcoming friendly against Portugal.
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