2 hours ago
2
The stage is set for Nigeria’s international friendly with Jordan.
The friendly will take place on Tuesday evening in Antalya, Turkey, at 6.30 pm, Nigerian time.
Nigeria heads to the game following a 2-1 victory against Iran in their last friendly encounter on Friday, while Jordan drew 2-2 with Costa Rica.
Both teams have met twice in their head-to-head history, with one win apiece in the two senior international meetings.
The Super Eagles won 2-0 in a 2004 LG Cup match in Lagos, while the Al-Nashama secured a 1-0 win in a 2013 friendly in Amman.
Jordan is currently ranked 64th in the FIFA World rankings, and they are 36 places behind Nigeria.
Jamal Sellami’s side will use the friendly match as part of their build-up to a historic debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place this summer.
The Middle Eastern side is in Group J at the World Cup alongside Algeria, Austria, and reigning world champions Argentina.
Nigeria, meanwhile, will use the match as a means for head coach, Eric Chelle to discover new players for the Super Eagles after failing to secure an automatic ticket for the 2026 World Cup.
Chelle’s side will be without some key Super Eagles players – Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Maduka Okoye – against Jordan.
Onyemaechi was permitted to leave the Super Eagles camp ahead of the Jordan game to go and be with his partner following the birth of his child, while Bassey, Ajayi and Okoye sustained injuries and will not take part in the friendly match.
Speaking with DAILY POST about the friendly tie between Nigeria and Jordan, Saheed Afolabi, who works at Clear TV, said that the encounter is another good test for the Super Eagles.
“The match against Jordan is another good test for the Super Eagles after they finished in third position in the last AFCON,” Afolabi told DAILY POST.
“Though you might say Jordan is not a big footballing nation, however, you wouldn’t dispute the fact that as long as these friendly matches come in, it shows preparedness and competitiveness to the squad.
“It is an avenue to try out new players or foreign players of Nigerian heritage who play for clubs across Europe, to come and play for the Super Eagles.
“Also, the coach uses it to bring new players to the team to compete with the regulars. So it is a good one that Nigeria won 2-1 against Iran, and hopefully they will defeat Jordan.
“I want to see them score like four to five goals against Jordan and boost their chances to go high in the FIFA rankings,” he said.
Depleted Super Eagles look to spoil Jordan’s World Cup prep in Turkey friendly
