Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Iran national football team in Antalya, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 2013 AFCON champions delivered a performance that gave the Nigerian football faithfuls an entertaining international friendly.
The Super Eagles took control early, extended their lead after the break, and held firm under late Iranian pressure to seal a deserved win.
Fast start sets the tone for Nigeria
Nigeria wasted no time stamping their authority on the game, taking the lead just six minutes in through Moses Simon.
A well-weighted pass from Samuel Chukwueze found Simon in space, and the winger made no mistake, spinning away from his marker before drilling a low finish into the bottom corner.
The early goal settled the Super Eagles, who went on to enjoy long spells of possession. Simon remained a constant threat, repeatedly driving into the penalty area and forcing Iran onto the back foot.
Iran responded with flashes of attacking intent, with Mehdi Taremi showing glimpses of danger down the flank. However, a lack of support in the box meant their promising moments failed to translate into clear chances.
Nigeria’s midfield, led by Wilfred Ndidi, controlled the tempo, while the defence stood firm to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
Lookman inspires as Super Eagles hold off Iran fightback
The Super Eagles doubled their advantage early in the second half, with Ademola Lookman playing a key role.
The former Atalanta forward slipped a precise pass through to Akor Adams, who calmly finished inside the far post to make it 2-0 and put Nigeria firmly in control.
Iran, however, refused to fold. Sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 67th minute when captain Taremi reacted quickest after a corner struck the crossbar, slotting home from close range to halve the deficit.
The goal sparked a tense finale, with Iran pushing aggressively for an equaliser. Taremi thought he had levelled matters later on, but his effort was ruled out for handball.
Nigeria had chances to put the game to bed, with Lookman firing narrowly over from distance, but they were forced to dig deep in the closing stages.
Full-time#IRNNGA #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/551p4UFyMm
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) March 27, 2026
Despite late pressure and four minutes of added time, the Super Eagles held on to secure a 2-1 win, continuing their positive run and offering further encouragement under their evolving setup.
