The Super Eagles officially opened their training camp today in the scenic coastal city of Antalya, Turkey, as they gear up for two crucial international friendlies against Iran and Jordan. Backroom staff flew out from Nigeria on Monday as an advance team.
Coach Eric Chelle wasted no time implementing his vision. He named a dynamic 23-man squad last week, deliberately excluding star striker Victor Osimhen, reliable right-back Ola Aina, and first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. These high-profile omissions headline a sweeping reshuffle from the team that competed at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Chelle actively seeks to evaluate new talents and inject energy into the lineup, signaling his commitment to building depth ahead of future competitions.
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Furthermore, the coach dropped several other regulars, including goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defenders Chidozie Awaziem and Ryan Alebiosu, midfielders Muhammed Usman, Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Tochukwu Nnadi, plus forwards Salim Fago and Cyriel Dessers. In their place, he introduced exciting new call-ups: defender Emmanuel Fernandez, forward Philip Otele, and striker Collins Yira Sor. These fresh faces bring hunger and versatility, which will challenge the established core and create healthy competition within the group.
Meanwhile, experienced leaders step up to anchor the side. Team captain Wilfred Ndidi returns to dictate play from midfield, combining seamlessly with Alex Iwobi. Ademola Lookman, the former African Footballer of the Year, takes charge of the attack in Osimhen’s absence. Lookman dazzles with his creativity and goal threat, inspiring teammates to elevate their performance. Defenders like Calvin Bassey and Bright Osayi-Samuel, along with midfielders Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, provide stability and drive. Goalkeepers Maduka Okoye, Adeleye Adebayo, and Francis Uzoho compete for the starting spot, adding sharpness to training sessions.
The squad that featured at the 2025 AFCON delivered a strong campaign overall. Nigeria stormed through the group stage with three impressive wins, beating Tanzania 2-1, Tunisia 3-2, and Uganda 3-1. They then dominated the knockout rounds, thrashing Mozambique 4-0 in the round of 16 and defeating Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-finals. The Super Eagles reached the semi-finals but fell to hosts Morocco on penalties after a goalless draw. They bounced back strongly in the third-place play-off, beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties following another 0-0 stalemate to claim the bronze medal and extend their perfect record in such matches.
Security concerns and regional tensions in the Middle East forced organizers to relocate the fixtures from Amman, Jordan, to Antalya. This Turkish venue offers excellent facilities and a neutral, secure environment, allowing both teams to focus purely on football. Nigeria faces Iran first on Friday at 4pm local time. Then, they clash with Jordan on Tuesday, March 31, at 8pm Nigerian time.
