Nigeria’s Super Eagles put up a spirited performance to beat World Cup bound Iran by 2-1 in the ongoing four-nation invitational tournament played at the Mardan Sports Complex in Aksu, Antalya, Turkey on Friday afternoon.
The match was just about six minutes old when Nigeria went ahead through Moses Simon who was assisted by Samuel Chukwueze.
Striker Akor Adams doubled Nigeria’s lead in the 51st minute when he wrote his name on the score sheet utilising a well-laid pass from Ademola Lukman to place the ball beyond Keeper Alireza Beiranvand in goal for Iran.
However, the Iranian reduced the tally in the 67th minute through Mehdi Taremi who left the Super Eagles’ goal tender, Maduka Okoye stranded on his line.
Despite their lively attempts, neither team could score again before the final whistle, including the four minutes of stoppage time added by the referee.
The four-nation invitational tournament also includes Jordan and Costa. Interestingly, while Nigeria is rebuilding after their embarrassing non-qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Iran used the encounter to prepare for the Mundial amidst their recent poor form.
Though among the earliest teams to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Team Melli’s preparations for the World Cup have been overshadowed by geo-political tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
