Nigeria's Super Eagles are set to face Jordan in an international friendly match on Tuesday evening in Antalya, Turkey. The match, scheduled for 6:30 pm Nigerian time, comes after the Super Eagles' 2-1 victory over Iran in their last friendly encounter. Jordan, on the other hand, drew 2-2 with Costa Rica in their previous match. The two teams have met twice before, with each side securing a win.
The Super Eagles won 2-0 in a 2004 LG Cup match in Lagos, while Jordan secured a 1-0 win in a 2013 friendly in Amman. Jordan is currently ranked 64th in the FIFA World rankings, 36 places behind Nigeria. The friendly match is part of Jordan's preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face Algeria, Austria, and Argentina in Group J.
Nigeria's head coach, Eric Chelle, will use the match to discover new players for the Super Eagles, as the team failed to secure an automatic ticket for the 2026 World Cup. The Super Eagles will be without key players Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Maduka Okoye due to injuries and personal reasons.
According to Saheed Afolabi, the match is a good test for the Super Eagles after they finished in third position in the last AFCON. Afolabi hopes that the Super Eagles will defeat Jordan and score four to five goals to boost their chances in the FIFA rankings.
The Super Eagles' friendly match against Jordan presents an opportunity for head coach Eric Chelle to assess new talent and build a stronger team. With key players like Calvin Bassey and Maduka Okoye absent, Chelle will need to rely on other players to step up and make a difference. The match is also a chance for the Super Eagles to improve their FIFA ranking, currently 36 places ahead of Jordan. Afolabi's expectation of a high-scoring win may be ambitious, but a convincing victory would undoubtedly boost the team's morale. Ultimately, the match will be a crucial test of the Super Eagles' preparedness and competitiveness under Chelle's leadership.
