The Nigeria national football team delivered a commanding performance as they defeated Iran 2-1 in an international friendly match played on Friday at the Corendon Airlines Park in Antalya, Turkey.
Nigeria wasted no time seizing control. Moses Simon ignited the contest in the 6th minute with a moment of pure brilliance. The winger collected the ball on a swift counter-attack, skillfully glided past his defender, and clinically slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner, leaving Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand helpless.
This early strike injected confidence into the squad and set a dominant tone for the first half.
Throughout the opening period, the Super Eagles maintained relentless pressure. They dictated the tempo, created multiple scoring opportunities, and restricted Iran’s movements effectively.
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As a result, Nigeria carried a well-deserved 1-0 lead into the interval.
Shortly after the restart, Nigeria extended their advantage. In the 51st minute, Akor Adams finished a beautifully orchestrated move with composure.
Lookman provided the decisive assist through his creative vision, allowing Adams to slot home from close range and make it 2-0. The goal highlighted the team’s growing attacking depth and slick combination play.
As the game progressed, coach Eric Chelle introduced debuts for Chibuike Nwaiwu and Emmanuel Fernandez in the second half, giving these new faces valuable international exposure. Iran fought back fiercely, pulling one goal back in the 69th minute through Mehdi Taremi to narrow the scoreline to 2-1 and create a tense finale.
In response, Nigeria’s technical team reacted swiftly with a triple substitution. They brought on Paul Onuachu, Chidera Ejuke, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru to reinforce the midfield and attack. Later, Frank Onyeka entered the fray to help anchor the defense and manage the closing stages. Despite Iran’s late surge, the Super Eagles stood firm, defended resolutely, and successfully saw out the victory.
