Nigeria take on Asian opponents Iran in their opening match at the four-team invitational tournament which also features Costa Rica and Jordan on Friday, hoping to start on a winning note after missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament was originally scheduled to hold in Jordan, but was moved to Antalya, Turkey, due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The Super Eagles enjoyed an impressive outing at the 2925 African Cup of Nations tournament, where they finished third after winning six of their seven matches in Morocco, including impressive victories over the likes of Uganda, Algeria and Mozambique.
Head coach Eric Chelle named a strong 23-man squad for the mini-tournament, featuring several top-class players and the introduction of some new faces.
Footy-Africa highlights five Nigerian stars to keep tabs on ahead of their clash against Iran.
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Paul Onuachu
Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu earned a recall to the team after a long absence for the 2025 AFCON tournament and now headlines this list in the absence of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, who is out with an arm injury.
The 31-year-old has been in fine goalscoring form for the Turkish club this season and ranks as Africa’s highest goalscorer in Europe at the moment, with 23 goals across all competitions which also included a club-record 10-game scoring run.
All eyes will be on Paul Onuachu as he will be expected to lead the attack against Iran and the big question is whether he can carry his impressive club form to the international stage.
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Maduka Okoye
Udinese goalkeeper Maduka Okoye was a surprise omission when Eric Chelle released his final list to represent Nigeria at the 2025 AFCON tournament, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the fitness of first-choice goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali as of the time.
However, Okoye makes his return for the friendly games against Iran and Jordan, with Nwabali dropped from the squad.
A strong performance from the former Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper could be just what he needs to reclaim his spot as the Super Eagles’ first-choice keeper.
Akor Adams
Sevilla forward Akor Adams enjoyed a remarkable outing at his first major tournament with the Super Eagles at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, scoring twice and providing two assists in their run to a bronze medal finish.
Adams developed great understanding in attack with Osimhen, but with the Galatasaray striker absent due to injury this time around, his potential partnership with Onuachu will be one to watch out for.
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Ademola Lookman
Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman is expected to shoulder much of the attacking responsibility in the absence of Victor Osimhen and it will be interesting to see where he is deployed when Nigeria take on Iran on Friday.
The 28-year-old has enjoyed fine form since joining Atletico Madrid from Atalanta during the winter transfer window and will now be aiming to lead Nigeria national football team to victory as their main talisman.
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Philip Otele
Philip Otele was handed his first-ever call-up to the Nigerian national team ahead of the friendly matches against Iran and Jordan and will be hoping to make an impact in both matches.
The on-loan Hamburg winger’s versatility would give him an edge over other players in the squad, given that he can play across both flanks and can also feature centrally in attack.
