Nigeria’s Super Eagles will take on Venezuela in an international friendly in Houston on November 14, a key fixture in their final preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Footynaija.com reports.
The game will be staged at the Shell Energy Stadium, which will be the Super Eagles’ first-ever appearance at the venue. For manager Eric Chelle, it represents a crucial opportunity to fine-tune his squad before the tournament begins in December, with places in his final 23-man roster still up for grabs.
Nigeria’s recent form has been mixed, scraping past Rwanda before being pegged back by South Africa in World Cup qualifying. Sitting third in their group, Chelle’s side know their qualification fate will be resolved long before the Houston meeting, giving the friendly added value as a tactical rehearsal rather than a pressure fixture.
Venezuela, meanwhile, return to Houston for the second time this year after a goalless draw with Guatemala. Fernando Batista’s men are still searching for consistency after damaging defeats to Argentina and Colombia, and will see the clash with Nigeria as a chance to reset.
The Super Eagles have been drawn in Group C at AFCON alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania, and will arrive in Morocco with expectations to go one better after losing the 2023 final to Cote d’Ivoire.