Iran midfielder Omid Noorafkan has admitted that his side’s preparations for their upcoming international friendly against Nigeria have been far from ideal, citing logistical challenges and limited training time.

The two nations are set to clash in Antalya, Turkey, on Friday, March 27, in a friendly match aimed at sharpening both teams ahead of future international commitments, including preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Speaking to Tasnim News Agency, Noorafkan revealed that Iran endured a difficult journey from Tehran and have only recently settled into their training base in Turkey.

"We came here from Tehran with difficulty and have been in Turkey for four days. We have an important game with Nigeria and we are doing our best for these two friendly games and in preparation," Omid Noorafkan said.

The midfielder further acknowledged that the team’s limited time together has impacted their readiness, though he remains optimistic about gradual improvement.

"We've only been working out for 4-5 days and our physical condition is improving day by day. The fact that we couldn't do anything before the Turkish camp makes it difficult, but with our physical condition improving, I hope we can have an acceptable game against Nigeria and at least make people happy,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles opened camp on Tuesday at their Bellis Deluxe Hotel base, with the technical crew and an initial batch of 13 players arriving, including experienced midfielders Alex Iwobi and Frank Onyeka.

Following the full squad’s arrival on Wednesday, the team held their first training session in Antalya, Turkey, as preparations intensified ahead of their friendly clash.

Although Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the fixture presents an opportunity for the team to build cohesion and momentum as they look ahead to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Adeyemi Adewale