Salman Al-Faraj of the Saudi Arabian Green Falcons scored on a free kick after Francis Uzoho’s weak save at the hour mark.
When VAR determined Semi Ajayi did not handle the ball within the box in the 69th minute, Nigeria also avoided giving up a free kick.
Terem Moffi replaced injured star player Victor Osimhen in the 55th minute, and Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman were replaced by Kelechi Iheanacho and Moses Simon, respectively. Both players had wasted good opportunities to give Nigeria the lead in the first half.
Victor Boniface’s strike caused an own goal from Abdulelah Al-Amri in the 73rd minute, giving Nigeria the equalizer. Al-Amri diverted the shot past his own goal.
Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho, the substitutes, did a fantastic job on the left wing before scoring the equalizer.
With a wonderful curler from inside the box, Iheanacho gave Nigeria the lead in the 81st minute.
The Super Eagles were denied the victory, though, as Mohamed Kanno’s free kick from the edge of the penalty box for Saudi Arabia in the 99th minute restored parity.
The Super Eagles will play Mozambique in a second friendly on Monday at the same location in Portugal as they continue to get ready for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe as well as the 2023 African Cup of Nations in January.