After uncertainties, the Super Eagles will face Iran in an international friendly today in Turkey.
The game is aimed at aiding preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Nigeria will unfortunately not be part of after failing to secure a ticket to the first-ever finals to be co-hosted by three nations.
The friendly was originally scheduled to take place in Jordan, who face the Eagles two days after the game against Iran but the ongoing hostilities between the United States and Israel against Iran forced a move in the venue, with several flights still being disrupted in the Middle East because of the war.
Iran has been firing missiles and drones against other Gulf countries, which Jordan is part of. Eagles preparation was, however, slowed on Wednesday, when the media officer of the Super Eagles revealed that defender Calvin Bassey will not be part of the friendlies due to a back injury which he sustained last weekend when his Premier League team took on Burnley at the Craven Cottage in the English topflight.
Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, has called up Trabzonspor defender Chibuike Nwaiwu, as Bassey’s replacement. Chelle, who is still facing criticism for failing to get Nigeria over the line in the World Cup qualifiers despite being so close, and also failing to reach the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), will hope that football fans in the country can take some solace in the results, if they went well for him and the team.
