Portugal winger Rafael Leão is expected to miss his country’s final World Cup warm-up match against Nigeria after being sent off during Saturday’s international friendly against Chile.
Leão was shown a red card shortly before half-time for punching Chile defender Ivan Román in the face.
Despite playing with 10 men, Portugal recovered to secure a 2-1 victory.
Gonçalo Guedes and Bruno Fernandes scored in the second half before Román pulled one back in stoppage time.
The AC Milan forward had been handed a starting role after missing several recent club matches due to suspension and selection decisions by coach Max Allegri.
His latest dismissal is expected to attract a standard one-match suspension, which would rule him out of Wednesday’s friendly against Nigeria.
There is also the possibility that the suspension could extend beyond the warm-up fixture and affect Portugal’s opening World Cup matches, potentially sidelining him against DR Congo and Uzbekistan.
The match against Nigeria at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria will be Portugal’s third and final preparation game before departing for the World Cup.
Portugal have won their previous two warm-up matches, defeating co-hosts USA 2-0 before overcoming Chile.
For Nigeria, the encounter will bring an end to a rebuilding period under coach Eric Chelle.
The Super Eagles played out a 2-2 draw with Poland in Warsaw last Wednesday after earlier victories over Zimbabwe and Jamaica helped them retain the Unity Cup title in London.
The last meeting between both countries came before the 2022 World Cup, when Portugal recorded a 4-0 victory over Nigeria.
Like four years ago, the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the World Cup and will miss a second consecutive edition of the tournament, the first time the country has missed back-to-back World Cups since making its debut appearance in 1994.
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