Nigeria’s March Invitational Tournament Relocated to Turkey
Nigeria is gearing up to participate in a highly anticipated invitational tournament scheduled for March, featuring prominent teams like Iran and Costa Rica.
The Jordan Football Association has officially announced that the event will take place in Antalya, Turkey, instead of its originally planned venue in Amman. This decision was made in response to “the current situation in the region and the limited movement of people,” a statement from the Association indicated.
The tournament will see the Jordanian national team compete alongside their counterparts from Iran, Nigeria, and Costa Rica. This four-nation friendly tournament is part of the teams’ preparations ahead of future competitions.
According to the tournament schedule, the opening match will see Jordan face off against Costa Rica on the evening of March 27th, while Iran will compete against Nigeria on the same day. Just four days later, Jordan will take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria, with Iran facing Costa Rica in their second match.
This invitational event coincides with Nigeria’s ongoing quest for justice in another competition, as they have lodged a formal complaint to FIFA regarding DR Congo’s alleged use of ineligible players during African playoff matches. If FIFA decides in favor of Nigeria, the Super Eagles may withdraw from the tournament in Turkey.
For both Iran and Jordan, this tournament serves as crucial preparation for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Iran has been placed in Group G alongside notable teams such as Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, while Jordan will face off against Algeria, Argentina, and Austria in Group J.
The Jordanian team is expected to hold its final training camp in preparation for the World Cup finals in May and June. During this camp, they will face Switzerland on May 31st in St. Gallen before heading to the United States for a match against Colombia on June 7th in San Diego. The official camp for the World Cup will be based in Portland, Oregon.
