The Nigeria national football team will return to action on Friday when they face Iran national football team in an international friendly at the Antalya Stadium in Turkey.
The match will be Nigeria’s first outing since securing a bronze medal at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and offers an early test of the team’s rebuilding process under head coach Eric Chelle.
Nigeria head into the encounter with a slight edge in previous meetings between both sides, having recorded one win and one draw. Their last clash, at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, ended in a goalless draw.
The fixture is part of a four-nation invitational tournament also involving Jordan and Costa Rica.
Despite missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles have shown signs of recovery, finishing third at the 2025 AFCON. The team has also maintained an unbeaten run in competitive matches under Chelle, indicating gradual progress.
The friendly is expected to serve as an opportunity for the coach to test new players and tactical options, especially with several key absentees. Victor Osimhen, Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Stanley Nwabali are all unavailable for the game.
Midfielder Alex Iwobi is expected to play a key role as he approaches his 100th international appearance, while Ademola Lookman and Paul Onuachu are likely to lead the attack.
On their part, Iran arrive in Turkey with mixed form, having failed to win their last three matches. However, they have already secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup and will be aiming to regain momentum.
The encounter provides both teams an opportunity to fine-tune their squads, with Nigeria focusing on rebuilding and Iran seeking to restore confidence ahead of future competitions.
