The Nigerian Super Eagles will travel to Turkey for a four-nation international friendly tournament after the Jordanian Football Association announced a change of venue from the Middle East to Antalya, Bold Sports report.
The move comes in response to regional instability and restrictions on travel, ensuring smoother logistics for teams and supporters.
The tournament, scheduled for March 2026, will feature the Jordanian national team, Nigeria, Iran, and Costa Rica. It serves as part of Jordan’s preparations for their historic debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as an opportunity for Nigeria to maintain match fitness and experiment with squad options.
According to the schedule, Jordan will kick off the tournament against Costa Rica on Friday evening, March 27, while Iran faces Nigeria later that same day.
The teams will meet again on Tuesday, March 31, with Jordan taking on Nigeria and Iran playing their second match against Costa Rica.
“The decision to move the tournament to Antalya ensures a safer and more stable environment for all participants,” the Jordan FA said. “It also allows our national team to focus fully on preparations ahead of the World Cup.”
The Jordanian national team is gearing up for its first-ever World Cup appearance, having been drawn into Group 10 alongside Argentina, Algeria, and Austria.
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The team’s pre-World Cup schedule includes a final training camp, a friendly against Switzerland in St. Gallen on Sunday, May 31, followed by a match against Colombia in San Diego on Sunday, June 7, before settling in their official World Cup camp in Portland, USA.
For Nigeria, the Antalya tournament provides a chance to rebuild and test emerging talent after failing to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup. Head coach Eric Chelle will use the friendlies to strengthen team cohesion and evaluate players ahead of future competitions.
Several Super Eagles stars are expected to feature, including Alex Iwobi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Stanley Nwabali, Wilfred Ndidi, Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey, Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, and Samuel Chukwueze.
The tournament also offers valuable match practice as Nigeria awaits a FIFA decision regarding a protest over their playoff defeat to DR Congo, which could still open a route to World Cup qualification through inter-confederation playoffs later this year.
The Antalya tournament marks an important step for both teams: Jordan prepares to make history on the global stage, while Nigeria works to regain momentum and evaluate talent in the international window.
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