Nigeria’s Super Eagles were held to a 2-2 draw by FIFA World Cup-bound Jordan in an entertaining international friendly played on Tuesday at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey.
Jordan, popularly known as Al-Nashama and currently ranked 64th in the world, started brightly and stunned Nigeria in the 17th minute. A well-worked free-kick routine caught the Nigerian defence off guard, allowing star forward Mousa Tamari to fire his side into an early lead.
The Super Eagles thought they had drawn level just six minutes later when Raphael Onyedika blasted home from a Moses Simon cut-back, but the goal was ruled out for offside in a controversial decision.
Nigeria eventually found the equaliser in the 30th minute through stand-in captain Moses Simon, who marked his 97th international appearance in style. After Ademola Lookman’s initial effort was blocked, Simon reacted quickest to slot home with a composed left-footed finish.
The three-time African champions completed the turnaround four minutes before halftime. Bright Osayi-Samuel delivered a precise cross into the box, which debutant Emmanuel Fernandez controlled brilliantly before firing home to give Nigeria a 2-1 lead at the break.
The second half saw a more physical contest, with goalkeeper Francis Uzoho forced off in the 57th minute following an injury sustained while clearing the ball. He was replaced by Adebayo Adeleye.
Head coach Eric Chelle made tactical changes, introducing experienced midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi to stabilise the game. The appearance marked Iwobi’s 98th cap for Nigeria, bringing him closer to the prestigious 100-cap milestone.
Jordan, however, continued to press and were rewarded in the 77th minute with a well-deserved equaliser, underlining their growing strength on the international stage.
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Nigeria made further substitutions late on, handing a senior debut to Philip Otele, while Samuel Chukwueze replaced Moses Simon in attack. The closing moments of the match were tense, with Alex Iwobi receiving a straight red card to compound Nigeria’s frustrations.
Despite the draw, the fixture provided valuable lessons for the Super Eagles as they continue preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. With Jordan coming into the game in strong form, having lost just once in their previous five matches, the result reflects the competitive nature of the encounter.