Iran coach hails Super Eagles after friendly defeat

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has offered high praise to the Super Eagles of Nigeria, describing them as a “strong and physical” side following their 2–1 victory in Antalya, Turkey, on Friday.

Nigeria delivered a composed performance in Antalya, combining attacking sharpness with defensive resilience to secure the win over Iran.

Read Also: Iran vs Nigeria: Simon, Adams goals fire Super Eagles to 2–1 win in Antalya

Goals from Moses Simon and Akor Adams proved decisive, as the Super Eagles took early control and maintained composure under late pressure.

Early Control, Clinical Finish

Nigeria made a fast start, with Samuel Chukwueze threading a precise pass to Simon, who finished calmly after six minutes.

Head coach Eric Chelle made key adjustments at half-time, introducing Emmanuel Fernandez, while Ademola Lookman later set up Adams to double the lead early in the second half.

Iran responded through Mehdi Taremi, but Nigeria managed the closing stages effectively, with substitutes including Paul Onuachu, Chidera Ejuke, and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru helping to see out the result.

Ghalenoei Reacts

Reflecting on the defeat, Ghalenoei admitted Nigeria’s physicality and quality made the difference.

“This was a very useful preparation game, especially as we were able to implement Plan B in defence against a strong and physical team like Nigeria,” he said.

What’s Next

The result marks Nigeria’s second-ever win over Iran, following their 1998 Carlsberg Cup victory, while their 2014 FIFA World Cup meeting ended goalless.

Both teams return to action on March 31, with Nigeria facing Jordan, while Iran takes on Costa Rica as preparations continue ahead of future international competitions.