Nigeria’s Super Eagles will look to build momentum despite missing key players when they face Jordan national football team in an international friendly on Tuesday evening in Antalya.
The match is scheduled for 6:30 pm Nigerian time and comes on the back of Nigeria’s 2-1 win over Iran national football team, while Jordan played out a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica national football team.
Historically, both sides are evenly matched, with one win each from their two previous encounters. Nigeria claimed a 2-0 victory in the 2004 LG Cup in Lagos, while Jordan edged a 1-0 win in a 2013 friendly in Amman.
Ranked 64th in the world, Jordan sits 36 places behind Nigeria and will use the fixture as preparation for their first-ever appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They have been drawn in a tough Group J alongside Algeria national football team, Austria national football team, and reigning champions Argentina national football team.
For Nigeria, head coach Eric Chelle is expected to use the match to assess new talent following the team’s failure to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup.
However, the Super Eagles will be without several regulars, including Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Maduka Okoye. Onyemaechi has left camp due to the birth of his child, while the others are sidelined with injuries.
Speaking ahead of the clash, sports analyst Saheed Afolabi described the game as a valuable test for Nigeria, emphasizing its importance in building squad depth and competitiveness. He added that such fixtures offer opportunities for new and foreign-based players of Nigerian descent to prove themselves and push for regular spots in the team.
Afolabi also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s form, hoping for a convincing win that could boost their FIFA ranking.
