Portugal, who are preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will face Nigeria in a high-profile international friendly on Wednesday.
The European giants begin their World Cup campaign against DR Congo on June 17, leading some observers to speculate that Nigeria were chosen as a comparable opponent.
However, Chelle believes such comparisons are misplaced, insisting that the Super Eagles and the Leopards are distinct teams despite both representing Africa.
"This is not a lack of respect, but you cannot compare Nigeria and DR Congo," Chelle told reporters ahead of the encounter, as quoted by Own-goal Nigeria.
"I don't think about who is the better team. I think more about the style of play and football philosophy. Maybe Portugal wanted to play against an African team because of the intensity that African sides bring to games."
The former Mali coach explained that Portugal could be looking to gain an understanding of the physical demands they may face when they take on DR Congo in their World Cup opener.
"When I speak about intensity, I mean the physical aspect of the game," he added.
"So, it is a good opportunity for Portugal to play against us because we already played DR Congo in the playoffs and lost on penalties. Maybe they want to see how we approach a game and how we can perform against them."
The match is expected to provide valuable preparation for both nations, with Portugal fine-tuning their plans ahead of the World Cup, while Nigeria continue to build under Chelle as they look toward future international assignments.
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