Iran Coach hails Nigeria’s quality, physicality in Antalya clash

By Tosin Omojola

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has acknowledged the quality and superiority of Nigeria’s Super Eagles following his side’s 2-1 defeat in an international friendly.

The Nigerian national team secured the victory in a keenly contested encounter played in Antalya, Turkey.

Speaking after the match, Ghalenoei admitted that the Super Eagles’ strength and physicality posed a significant challenge, describing the game as a valuable test for his team.

“I think this was a very useful preparation game, especially since we were able to implement Plan B in defence against a strong and physical team like Nigeria,” he said.

The Iranian tactician also praised the pedigree of the Nigerian squad, highlighting the calibre of players competing in top European leagues.

“Nigeria is a very good team, and all eleven players in this squad are active in major European leagues such as Spain, Italy, England, France, Greece, and Turkey,” he added.

The friendly served as part of both teams’ preparations for upcoming international competitions, with Nigeria taking positives from the hard-earned victory, while Iran continues to fine-tune its squad.