The Super Eagles took an early lead when Moses Simon cut in from the left wing and fired a low shot past veteran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand just six minutes into the match, with Samuel Chukwueze providing the assist. Nigeria doubled their advantage shortly after halftime as Akor Adams kept his composure to slot home a precise through-ball from Ademola Lookman in the 51st minute.
Iran pulled one back in the 67th minute through captain Mehdi Taremi, who finished from close range after a corner routine, but the Super Eagles’ defence held firm to secure the victory despite late pressure.
The match, played at the Mardan Sports Complex (also known as Corendon Airlines Park) in Antalya as part of a four-nation invitational tournament, kicked off around 12:30pm local time (roughly 1:30pm or 2:30pm Nigerian time depending on reports) and unfolded largely behind closed doors in front of a sparse crowd.
Nigeria, missing star striker Victor Osimhen through injury and operating without Calvin Bassey, lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Maduka Okoye in goal. The team showed attacking fluency and resilience, blending experience from players like Wilfred Ndidi and youthful energy even as they continue rebuilding under coach Eric Chelle following their third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and absence from the 2026 World Cup.
Iran deployed a 5-4-1 setup and pushed forward in the second half, but could not find an equaliser. Shoja Khalilzadeh received the only notable yellow card for a foul late in the game.
The result gives Nigeria positive momentum heading into their next fixture against Jordan in the same tournament on Tuesday. Analysts have praised the clinical finishing from Simon and Adams, as well as the squad depth on display, viewing the win as an encouraging sign for the Super Eagles’ cohesion in the March international window.
Both sides used the neutral-venue clash for competitive preparation—Iran amid ongoing uncertainties around their World Cup involvement due to regional issues—highlighting the value of such friendlies in maintaining rhythm ahead of future assignments.
