Jordan Confirms Turkey For Nigeria Friendly
After days of uncertainty, the planned four-team friendly tournament involving the Super Eagles, Jordan, Iran and Costa Rica has been moved to Turkey after ongoing tensions in the Middle East caused by the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel forced organisers to move it away from its initial venue in Amman, the Jordanian capital.
The Jordan Football Association confirmed that the tournament will still go ahead but in Antalya, Turkey, noting that Iran—whose participation was also in doubt—will take part in the competition.
“The Jordanian Football Association has decided to move the matches of the four-team international friendly tournament, scheduled for March 2026, to be held in the Turkish city of Antalya, due to the current situation in the region and the limited movement of people,” the statement read via the FA’s website.
“The four-team tournament will be held with the participation of the Jordanian national team, along with Iran, Nigeria and Costa Rica, as part of the preparations for participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
According to the tournament schedule, which was also republished, the Jordanian national team will play its first match against Costa Rica on Friday, March 27, while Iran will meet Nigeria on the same day.
Jordan will then face Nigeria on Tuesday evening, March 31, while Iran will play its second match against Costa Rica on the same day.
The Nigeria Football Federation had also confirmed to our correspondent that they were monitoring the situation as organisers searched for a new venue.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is expected to name his squad ahead of the international window, during which Nigeria are also anticipating a verdict in their protest against DR Congo national football team, who advanced to the 2026 World Cup play-offs at their expense.
DR Congo are scheduled to face the winner of the semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica on March 31 in Mexico, as they battle for one of the two available spots at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Unless FIFA decides in favour of Nigeria, the Super Eagles will focus on their friendly matches and use the tournament to begin the second phase of the rebuilding process under Chelle, who led the team to a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in January.
