Nigeria: Super Eagles’ match vs Jordan gets new venue as Osimhen plays host in Turkey

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will now face Jordan in Turkey after the planned international friendly tournament was moved from the Middle East to the Turkish city of Antalya, Afrik-Foot reports.

The decision was confirmed by the Jordan Football Association, which explained that the tournament had to be relocated because of the current political situation in the region. Officials said the move would make it easier for teams and supporters to travel and ensure that the competition runs smoothly.

Originally, the four-nation tournament was supposed to take place in Jordan, with matches scheduled to be played in the capital city, Amman. However, organisers decided that holding the games in Turkey would provide a more stable environment and avoid travel restrictions that could affect the participating teams.

The tournament will now take place in Antalya, one of Turkey’s well-known football and tourism centres. Four national teams are expected to compete in the event: Nigeria, Jordan, Iran, and Costa Rica.

The matches will provide an important opportunity for Nigeria to stay active during the March international window and continue preparations for future competitions. Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to use the tournament to assess several players and strengthen his squad.

The Super Eagles are currently in a period of transition as the team looks to continuing building and preparing for upcoming international assignments.

Osimhen gets home advantage as Super Eagles teammates arrive in Turkey

The change of venue also means that one of Nigeria’s biggest stars, Victor Osimhen, will not need to travel far to join the national team.

The striker currently plays his club football in Turkey for Galatasaray, meaning he will effectively be hosting his international teammates when they arrive for the tournament in Antalya.

Instead of making a long journey from another country, Osimhen will already be based in Turkey, giving him a rare home advantage during an international break. Many of his Super Eagles teammates will be travelling from clubs across Europe and other parts of the world to join the squad for the friendly matches.

The tournament itself will serve different purposes for the participating teams. Jordan will use the games as part of their preparations for their historic appearance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face strong opposition in the group stage.

For Nigeria, the matches come at a time when the team is trying to regain stability after missing out on automatic qualification for the World Cup. Chelle is expected to use the friendlies to test new players and build a stronger squad for future tournaments.

The Super Eagles are also waiting for a decision from FIFA regarding a protest filed by the Nigeria Football Federation after their playoff defeat to the DR Congo national football team. Nigeria claimed that their opponents may have fielded ineligible players during the decisive match.

If FIFA rules in Nigeria’s favour, the Super Eagles could still have another chance to qualify through the inter-confederation playoffs scheduled to take place later this year.

Until that verdict is announced, the friendly tournament in Turkey will give Nigeria’s players valuable match practice. It will also bring the squad together again after their adventure at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations where the Super Eagles won bronze.