Nigeria were left frustrated on Wednesday night after conceding a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser in a thrilling 2-2 international friendly against Poland at the Stadion PGE Narodowy in Warsaw.
The Super Eagles looked set to claim a hard-fought victory after substitute Paul Onuachu converted a second-half penalty to put Eric Chelle’s men ahead. However, Poland had the final say as Przemysław Wiśniewski struck with virtually the last kick of the game, rescuing a draw for the hosts and denying Nigeria a memorable win.
The friendly brought together two nations still coming to terms with the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but both sides showed plenty of determination and attacking intent throughout the contest.
Nigeria made the brighter start and gradually took control of possession after an evenly balanced opening spell. Their positive approach paid off in the 23rd minute when Terem Moffi opened the scoring. The striker finished calmly after a well-worked move, giving the visitors a deserved lead.
Poland struggled to create clear-cut chances for much of the first half, but they found a way back just before the break. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Kacper Potulski reacted quickest inside the box and fired home from close range to level the score at 1-1.
Coach Eric Chelle made several changes at halftime as he continued to assess his squad ahead of future international assignments. The substitutions brought fresh energy to the Nigerian side, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Raphael Onyedika, Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi all making an impact.
The Super Eagles controlled large portions of the second half and consistently looked the more dangerous side going forward. Their persistence was rewarded in the 76th minute when VAR identified a handball inside the Polish penalty area.
Paul Onuachu stepped up confidently and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot a minute later, restoring Nigeria’s lead and putting them on course for what seemed to be a deserved victory.
As the clock ticked down, the Super Eagles appeared destined to record only their second-ever win over Poland, having beaten them 1-0 in Wroclaw back in March 2018 thanks to a Victor Moses penalty.
But football can be cruel.
With the match entering its final moments, Poland launched one last attack and Wiśniewski found the breakthrough deep into stoppage time, stunning the Nigerian bench and ensuring the spoils were shared.
Despite the disappointment of conceding so late, the performance offered several positives for Chelle and his team, who showed attacking quality, squad depth and resilience against a determined Polish side.
