Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei has outlined the key positives from his side’s 2-1 defeat to the Nigeria national football team, revealing that his team deliberately adopted a defensive “Plan B” approach during the encounter.
The international friendly, played in Antalya, saw Nigeria stamp their authority early, with Moses Simon opening the scoring inside six minutes.
Akor Adams doubled the lead shortly after the restart to put the Super Eagles in firm control.
Iran responded in the 67th minute through Mehdi Taremi, but the effort proved insufficient as Nigeria held on to secure victory.
Speaking after the match, Ghalenoei emphasized that the game served as an important tactical exercise for his team.
“This was a very useful preparation game. We were able to implement Plan B in defense against a strong and physical team like Nigeria,” he said.
He further praised the quality and depth within the Nigerian squad, noting that the majority of the players operate at the highest level in Europe under the guidance of head coach Eric Chelle.
Nigeria’s lineup featured several Europe-based stars, including Maduka Okoye, Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Samuel Chukwueze—highlighting the team’s growing strength in depth.
Ghalenoei also pointed to the benefit of squad rotation during the match, with expanded substitution allowances enabling Iran to assess multiple players in a competitive environment.
The Super Eagles will conclude their March international window with another friendly against the Jordan national football team next Tuesday, as preparations continue for upcoming competitive fixtures.
