The stage is set for an international friendly between Nigeria national football team and Jordan national football team.
The match will take place on Tuesday evening in Antalya at 6.30 pm Nigerian time.
Nigeria heads into the game following a 2 1 victory against Iran national football team in their last friendly encounter, while Jordan played out a 2 2 draw with Costa Rica national football team.
Both teams have met twice previously, recording one win each in their senior international meetings. The Super Eagles secured a 2 0 victory in a 2004 LG Cup match in Lagos, while Jordan claimed a 1 0 win in a 2013 friendly in Amman.
Jordan is currently ranked 64th in the FIFA world rankings, sitting 36 places behind Nigeria.
The team, coached by Jamal Sellami, will use the fixture as part of preparations for their historic debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled for this summer. The Middle Eastern side is drawn in Group J alongside Algeria national football team, Austria national football team, and reigning champions Argentina national football team.
Nigeria, on the other hand, will use the match to allow head coach Eric Chelle assess new players after the team failed to secure an automatic qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup.
Chelle’s squad will be without key players Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Maduka Okoye for the encounter.
Onyemaechi was granted permission to leave camp ahead of the match to be with his partner following the birth of his child, while Bassey, Ajayi and Okoye are sidelined due to injuries.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, Saheed Afolabi of Clear TV described the match as another important test for Nigeria.
“The match against Jordan is another good test for the Super Eagles after they finished in third position in the last AFCON,” Afolabi said.
“Though you might say Jordan is not a big footballing nation, however, you wouldn’t dispute the fact that as long as these friendly matches come in, it shows preparedness and competitiveness to the squad.
“It is an avenue to try out new players or foreign players of Nigerian heritage who play for clubs across Europe, to come and play for the Super Eagles.
“Also, the coach uses it to bring new players to the team to compete with the regulars. So it is a good one that Nigeria won 2 1 against Iran, and hopefully they will defeat Jordan.
“I want to see them score like four to five goals against Jordan and boost their chances to go high in the FIFA rankings,” he said.
