Retitle: Iran Star Expresses Confidence Ahead of Friendly Clash with Nigeria
Iran defender, Hossein Abarghouei, has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness to face the Super Eagles in an upcoming international friendly scheduled for Friday.
Speaking in an interview with Tasnim News Agency, Abarghouei highlighted the team’s level of preparation and positive atmosphere within the camp, noting that the match is important for Iran’s long term objectives.
“We are grateful that our training sessions are progressing well, and we have established an excellent camp.
“I hope we can bring joy to our supporters by achieving favorable results against Nigeria and Costa Rica, as this match represents a significant step towards our World Cup aspirations,” he said.
The centre back also dismissed concerns over limited time spent training together, insisting that players have maintained their fitness levels despite recent disruptions.
“During our brief stay in Turkey, we have trained effectively. All national team members are professionals, and it is not as if they have just been resting since the onset of the conflict,” he said.
“All the players have been training individually. Our physical condition is satisfactory, and we are prepared to compete with Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles opened camp on Tuesday at the Bellis Deluxe Hotel with 13 players and technical crew in attendance.
The number increased to 22 on Wednesday following the arrival of Wilfred Ndidi, who joined the squad in Turkey.
However, the team suffered a minor setback as Calvin Bassey withdrew from the squad due to a back injury.
Nigeria will be aiming for a strong performance against the Asian side as both teams continue preparations for upcoming international competitions.
The last meeting between the two countries was at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where both sides settled for a goalless draw in the group stage.
