The Super Eagles returned to winning ways on Friday, beating a World Cup-bound Iran side 2-1 in Antalya through a quick-fire opener from Moses Simon and a second-half header from Akor Adams, with Mehdi Taremi’s 67th-minute strike proving only a consolation.
The Super Eagles needed just seven minutes to make their intent clear in Antalya. Moses Simon put Nigeria ahead with a composed finish in the 7th minute, converting a chance created by Samuel Chukwueze down the right flank, and coach Eric Chelle’s side never relinquished that lead. Akor Adams extended the margin in the 52nd minute, finishing off a slick move initiated by Ademola Lookman, before Mehdi Taremi pulled one back for Iran in the 67th minute to set up a nervy final quarter. Nigeria held on. The final score — 2-1 — was Nigeria’s first result since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, and Chelle’s squad delivered exactly the winning start the Antalya window demanded. Fans who backed Nigeria and want to continue riding their momentum can check out the Bet9ja’s new player bonus ahead of the Jordan fixture on March 31.
Simon Sets the Tone in Seven Minutes
It took less than a quarter of an hour for the game to reveal what it would become. Chukwueze received possession on the right and drove at his defender with the directness that has made him one of the more exciting wide players in Fulham’s squad this season. His cut-back found Simon arriving at pace, and the Nantes winger finished without hesitation. Scoring inside seven minutes against a side preparing for a home World Cup is not a nothing result — it is a statement about where Nigeria’s attacking machinery is functioning.
Simon has carried this kind of form throughout a productive club season, and seeing him translate it into an international goal on the first outing since AFCON was genuinely encouraging for Chelle. The chemistry with Chukwueze on that right side is visible and familiar — two players who have shared an international camp many times and understand each other’s movement instinctively. As reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng, the early goal also settled the camp’s nerves. Nigeria came into this window carrying residual pain from the World Cup qualification failure, and a fast start against a respectable opponent was the perfect tonic. New Bet9ja users can claim the Bet9ja’s YOHAIG bonus to stay engaged with the Super Eagles’ Jordan friendly this coming Tuesday.
Akor Adams Finishes Off a Lookman Assist
The second goal came seven minutes into the second half and was the product of Nigeria’s most dangerous combination in this camp. Lookman — always inventive when he gets space to turn and face defenders — threaded a pass into the area that found Akor Adams in precisely the position a striker wants to be. The Sevilla forward applied a clean finish and Nigeria were two goals clear. The assist from Lookman is consistent with his club form at Atletico Madrid this season, where his ability to create as well as score has made him one of La Liga’s more complete attacking players.
Adams’ goal is particularly meaningful in the context of his Super Eagles career. After a difficult period at Sevilla where he spent more time recovering from injuries than demonstrating his qualities, the Nigerian forward has worked to rebuild his confidence and fitness at club level. Getting on the scoresheet against Iran in only the second half of an international friendly is a small but tangible reward for that effort, and Chelle will have noted how cleanly he finished when the chance arrived.
Taremi Reduces the Deficit But Nigeria Hold Firm
Mehdi Taremi’s 67th-minute goal gave Iran reason to believe a comeback was possible. The Inter Milan striker is one of the most clinical forwards in European club football, and his ability to convert half-chances from tight angles is well established. His goal came as Iran pushed higher and Nigeria began to sit a little deeper — a predictable tactical shift that Chelle will want to address before the Jordan game. The final 23 minutes carried some tension, but Nigeria’s defensive structure held and the three points were secured.
Iran, it should be noted, are not a soft opponent. They qualified for the 2026 World Cup and will be preparing seriously for the tournament in North America. Beating them — even in a friendly — by a one-goal margin after conceding late demonstrates genuine competitive quality from the Super Eagles. The result sends the right message heading into Tuesday’s fixture against Jordan. Fans following the Antalya tournament can find the Bet9ja sign-up bonus page for current welcome offers available before the Jordan match.
Jordan Next on March 31
Nigeria face Jordan at the Mardan Stadyumu in Antalya on Tuesday, 31 March, in the second and final friendly of this March window. Chelle is expected to rotate his squad, giving fringe players and newcomers like Yira Sor, Emmanuel Fernandez and Philip Otele the kind of extended minutes they need to stake a claim for regular inclusion. The Jordan fixture is less about the result and more about the information it yields — which combinations work, which players can handle the transition from club to international rhythm, and which tactical adjustments from the Iran game need to be baked in before the next competitive window.
📌 Did You Know?
- Moses Simon’s 7th-minute goal against Iran was the fastest Super Eagles goal scored in a senior international match since Victor Osimhen netted in the 3rd minute during Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 group stage opener against Uganda in Morocco in December 2025.
- Mehdi Taremi, who pulled one back for Iran, is the most-capped Iranian international currently playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues, having made his name at FC Porto before joining Inter Milan in the summer of 2024 on a free transfer. He is Iran’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifying.
- Akor Adams, who scored Nigeria’s second goal, was born in Makurdi, Benue State. His journey to European football took him through the Nigerian league before trials in Europe led to his move to Sevilla, making him one of a small number of NPFL-developed players who have broken through at La Liga level.
- The Mardan Stadyumu, where Nigeria will face Jordan on March 31, is a multi-purpose venue in the Antalya region of Turkey. Antalya’s cluster of modern facilities and mild spring climate has made it one of the most frequently used locations for international football friendlies in Europe outside the main national stadium circuits.
- Iran’s coaching staff for the 2026 World Cup cycle have placed significant emphasis on tactical flexibility, using a system that alternates between a back three and a back four depending on the opposition. Their ability to adapt mid-game and pull a goal back through Taremi reflects that structured approach.
- Samuel Chukwueze, who provided the assist for Simon’s opener, had been in discussions with Fulham over a permanent transfer from AC Milan earlier this week. His assist in Antalya — within days of those transfer reports — underlined why multiple clubs are interested in securing him on a long-term basis.
- This result means Eric Chelle has now won four of his five Super Eagles matches since taking charge in 2025, a record that compares favourably with his predecessors’ early win rates and gives the Malian-French coach firm ground to stand on as criticism of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying failure continues to circulate.
