Iran vs Nigeria – News and Probable Lineups

Irã will face Nígeria in an international friendly match on Friday evening at the Antalya Stadium in Turquia. Both teams approach the game in contrasting situations.

While Team Melli is grappling with off-pitch issues ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Super Eagles come with a different purpose, seeking to rebuild after missing the opportunity to compete in the global tournament.

Match overview

Irã enters this match under atypical conditions, as external elements have overshadowed their preparations despite successfully qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Team Melli was among the earliest nations to qualify for the tournament, but their participation has since become uncertain due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Placed in a group with Bélgica, Egito, and Nova Zelândia, Irã faces logistical issues, especially concerning matches organized in the United States, with their federation voicing security concerns.

On the field, Irã’s recent performances have been disappointing, as they remain winless in their last three encounters, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Rússia and drawing goalless with Cape Verde and Uzbequistão.

Therefore, Amir Ghalenoei’s squad will consider this match a chance to regain momentum and rebuild confidence amid upheaval within the team.

In contrast, Nígeria arrives in Antalya still reeling from the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Super Eagles’ aspirations came to a dramatic halt after a playoff defeat to DR Congo via penalties, and a subsequent appeal to FIFA was ultimately unsuccessful.

However, since then, Nígeria has shown signs of recovery, notably clinching a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, defeating Egito on penalties in the third-place match.

Under the guidance of Eric Chelle, the focus has shifted firmly to rebuilding, making this fixture an important early assessment of the coach’s long-term plan.

Encouragingly, the Super Eagles have gone six matches unbeaten across all competitions, indicating a team slowly finding stability and direction.

This match is part of a four-nation invitational tournament, which also includes Jordânia and Costa Rica, offering both teams a valuable chance to experiment with combinations and evaluate squad depth.

Meetings between these nation have been rare, but Nígeria has a slight advantage, with one win and one draw from previous encounters.

Team News

Irã will be missing several crucial players, with Saeid Ezatolahi excluded due to a foot injury, and Sardar Azmoun left out after a reported dispute with the federation.

Mehdi Taremi is expected to spearhead the attack for Team Melli, bringing his experience and consistent goal threat to the forefront.

Saman Ghoddos is likely to play a significant role in midfield, contributing creativity and technical ability in advanced positions.

Newly invited Denis Eckert is also included in the squad and may be set to make his debut post fulfilling eligibility requirements.

Nígeria has notable absentees as well, with Victor Osimhen out due to a fractured forearm.

Defender Ola Aina is absent due to fitness issues, and first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has been omitted from the squad.

Calvin Bassey faces an injury setback and has withdrawn from the national squad, missing these friendlies.

Alex Iwobi is nearing a milestone appearance, currently standing at 97 caps, and is anticipated to play a pivotal role in midfield.

Chelle has also called up three uncapped players, with Emmanuel Fernandez, Philip Otele, and Yira Sor all vying to make their senior debuts.

Irã probable starting XI:

Beiranvand; Hardani, Nemati, Kanaanizadegan, Mohammadi; Razzaghinia, Ezatolahi; Hashemnejad, Ghoddos, Mohebi; Taremi

Nígeria probable starting XI:

Big; Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Ogbu, Onyemaechi; Patience, Iwobi, Onyeka; Akor, Onuachu, Lookman

While Irã’s structure and experience cannot be ignored, the disrupted preparations and recent lack of form make them vulnerable. Conversely, Nígeria seems to be finding their rhythm under Eric Chelle, and with their attacking prowess and rejuvenated direction, the Super Eagles should be well-equipped to secure a decisive victory.