Former Nigeria defender Benedict Iroha has called on the Nigeria national football team to approach their upcoming friendlies with maximum commitment despite their non-competitive status.
Nigeria are set to face Iran national football team and Jordan national football team as preparations continue following their failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
Iroha, who was part of Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, said matches involving the Super Eagles always carry significant weight.
“It’s a friendly game, but matches involving the Super Eagles are always seen beyond the prism of friendlies,” he said.
The 56-year-old added that the passion of Nigerian supporters means expectations remain high regardless of the fixture type.
“Nigerians are too passionate about Super Eagles matches, whether friendly or competitive,” he said. “Everyone wants to watch the team play, and these games are no different.”
The fixtures are also expected to give head coach Eric Chelle an opportunity to assess new players and tactical approaches ahead of future competitions.
However, Iroha admitted the games would serve as a reminder of Nigeria’s absence from the upcoming World Cup.
“It is a sad reality. These matches will only remind us of what we would be missing at the World Cup,” he said.
Nigeria face Iran on Friday before taking on Jordan next week, with both matches scheduled to be played in Turkey.
