Adams, Simon inspire Super Eagles' win over Iran
Our Reporters Super Eagles secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Iran national football team in Antalya, Turkey on Friday. The Super Eagles took control early, extended their lead after
Our Reporters
Super Eagles secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Iran national football team in Antalya, Turkey on Friday.
The Super Eagles took control early, extended their lead after the break, and held firm under late Iranian pressure to seal a deserved win.
Nigeria wasted no time stamping their authority on the game, taking the lead just six minutes in through Moses Simon.
A well-weighted pass from Samuel Chukwueze found Simon in space, and the winger made no mistake, spinning away from his marker before drilling a low finish into the bottom corner.
The early goal settled the Super Eagles, who went on to enjoy long spells of possession. Simon remained a constant threat, repeatedly driving into the penalty area and forcing Iran onto the back foot.
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Iran responded with flashes of attacking intent, with Mehdi Taremi showing glimpses of danger down the flank. However, a lack of support in the box meant their promising moments failed to translate into clear chances.
Nigeria’s midfield, led by Wilfred Ndidi, controlled the tempo, while the defence stood firm to take a 1-0 lead into the break.
The Super Eagles doubled their advantage early in the second half, with Ademola Lookman playing a key role.
The former Atalanta forward slipped a precise pass through to Akor Adams, who calmly finished inside the far post to make it 2-0 and put Nigeria firmly in control.
Iran, however, refused to fold. Sustained pressure eventually paid off in the 67th minute when captain Taremi reacted quickest after a corner struck the crossbar, slotting home from close range to halve the deficit.
